Punjab Kings (PBKS) recently shared a video in which viewers can see the co-owner of the team, Preity Zinta, and head coach Ricky Ponting have engaged in a candidate chat. The franchise has shared a clip of the video from their official 'X' handle, which quickly attracted attention from cricket lovers.

In reply to a question from Zinta, Ponting asked her to join him in the dugout so that she could feel the intensity more during a match. The cricket legend of Australia, known for his aggression during his captaincy, now looks more calm and composed as a coach in the dugout. So, when the Bollywood actress heard about his aggressive mentality and approach, it was a shocker for her.

"How does somebody be so aggressive on the ground and as a person but be so calm and chilled out?" Preity Zinta asked this question to Ponting. In reply, Ponting said, "You need to come and sit next to me in the dugout sometimes, because you will see that it's not always calm. Look, I'm an aggressive-natured person, especially when it's cricket time."

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The 50-year-old coach revealed his approach to coaching as well in the video shared by Punjab Kings. Punjab Kings experienced one of their best dominating seasons in IPL 2025. They topped the group stage, and after a defeat in Qualifier 1, they cornered Mumbai Indians to claim a spot in the final match. Though, in the end, Royal Challengers Bengaluru had the last laugh over Punjab. Despite the heartbreaking moment, Ponting's influence over the team was undeniable.

Ponting revealed his views on coaching a team

As he revealed, he is completely focused on his duties and always tries his best to pull out the best performances from the players. 

"I'll have a laugh and a joke and a coffee and sit down with anyone and talk about anything outside of cricket time. But when it's cricket time, it's my job to bring high performance to this team... And so I'm not going to waste a minute, I'm not going to waste a day, I'm not going to waste a training session where I'm not trying to be the best coach that I can be and make every single player that's playing with me the best player that they can be," Ricky said this to Preity in the video clip. 

Watch the clip here

Ponting mentality - Train with passion, roar with aggression 💪🔥

Don’t miss the full video on our YouTube channel and app. 📹 pic.twitter.com/L0EWSmRXGX

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) June 7, 2025

Punjab Kings' campaign in the IPL 2025 might have come to an end in disappointment, but co-owner Preity Zinta preferred to look at the silver lining in a moving Instagram post posted three days after the final. On June 3, PBKS came up short in their first title, going down by 6 runs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). But the defeat did not overshadow what was an extraordinary season for the side. Zinta's letter complimented captain Shreyas Iyer and the team for their performance, passion, and determination.

In her sentimental post, Preity started, "It didn't end the way we wanted it to, but...the journey was spectacular! It was thrilling, engaging, & inspiring. I cherished the battle & the grit our young group, our shers, demonstrated throughout the tournament." I enjoyed how our captain, our Sarpanch, led from the front & how Indian uncapped players ruled this IPL!" Her appreciation for the captain and the young guns of PBKS was evident as she discussed their unmatched performances.

She continued, “This year was unique. We smashed records even though we lost key players to injury & national duty, witnessed a pause in the tournament, transferred home games to other states, & evacuated a stadium! We adapted & topped the points table after a decade & fought till the end in an exciting final.” The actress credited the entire PBKS unit for maintaining composure under pressure and delivering memorable moments throughout the campaign.

"Job Half Done, But We Will Be Back": Preity's Promise to Supporters

Preity did not constrain herself to just commending the on-field performances. Zinta thanked the whole PBKS family and support staff by stating, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you to each one of them, our support staff, and everyone at PBKS for an incredible season. Most importantly, a HEARTFELT THANK YOU to our SHER SQUAD, our FANS that stood with us through thick and thin." Her note resonated amongst supporters and drew in their comments reserved for pride and loyalty.

It didn’t end the way we wanted it to but….the journey was spectacular ! It was exciting, entertaining & it was inspiring. I loved the fight & the grit our young team, our shers showed throughout the tournament. I loved the way our captain, our Sarpanch lead from the front &… pic.twitter.com/kUtRs908aS

— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) June 6, 2025

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Concluding her note with hopes and determination, Zinta ended with, “The job is half done & we are determined to finish it. See you in 1 year." The IPL trophy may not be the one that eluded Punjab Kings, but there was a sense of hope within the actress's note as regards the 2026 season.

Ahead of the all-important match (Sunday, June 1), Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner Preity Zinta paid a visit to the Ambaji Temple in Gujarat. PBKS, with their one of the best dominating so far in the history of the Indian Premier League, lost against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025.

Now they are ready to lock horns with Mumbai Indians at the Qualifier 2 game. The winner of the match will go through to the final and will compete with RCB, and the losing side will be knocked out of the tournament.

So, the match is set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, which will be ao-or-die clash for both Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians. Punjab, under Shreyas Iyer's leadership, showed an all-around team game, and as the best team of the group stage competed with RCB at Eliminator 1 at Mullanpur.

Read More: IPL 2025: What happens if PBKS vs MI Qualifier 2 washes away due to rain?

Three teams, one title, a do or die situation 

That match was conquered by Rajat Patidar's team. If PBKS loses tonight, their IPL 2025 journey will be over. Every inch of the match will matter for Punjab; the team is in search of their first-ever IPL title. In sports, there is a well-known phrase: champion's luck. Punjab Kings perhaps needs that now. The winner of Qualifier 2 will face RCB in the summit clash on Tuesday, June 3, at the same venue in Ahmedabad.

While Punjab Kings is in search of their maiden IPL trophy, Mumbai Indians will look to become victorious in the tournament for the 6th time; that will make them the most successful franchise of the tournament. 

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Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner and Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has opened up about her feelings after the legendary Indian cricketer Virat Kohli officially announced his retirement from Test cricket last Monday (May 12). She reflected on her memories to reveal the reason why Kohli was so special to her. 

Virat Kohli was a special cricketer in Test cricket

The 36-year-old Virat Kohli is now only active in the ODI format. The right-handed batter recorded 9230 runs in 123 Tests with an average of 46.85. He scored 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries in his Test career, including seven double-centuries, with the highest score of 254*. Kohli was also India's most successful Test captain with a record of 40 wins in 68 matches. 

Kohli was a very special cricketer in the Test cricket format. Many experts have never doubted calling him one of the greatest cricketers in modern-day Test cricket. His passion for this format made Test cricket more powerful. Preity Zinta also revealed similar feelings after Kohli retired from the Test.

See Also: Shreyanka Patil pens down emotional notes on Virat Kohli's Test retirement

I saw test cricket mainly for Virat: Preity Zinta on Virat Kohli

On her social media account, the PBKS co-owner claimed that she saw Test cricket mainly for Kohli, who brought the passion and much character into the game with his competitiveness and top desire. She feels that Kohli's absence will challenge Test cricket heavily.

While Ravichandran Ashwin, the latest captain Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli have recently retired from Test cricket, the Bollywood actress believes that it is an important and challenging time in Indian cricket too, where the present Indian cricketers will have to fill the special shoes.

I saw test cricket mainly for Virat. He infused so much passion and so much character into the game with his competitiveness & the desire to excel. I don’t think test cricket will ever be the same again. I wish him well and all the best for his future. Our current Indian players… https://t.co/XOkwATJtr7

— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) May 13, 2025

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner Preity Zinta has sent a motivational message to the team, asking them to concentrate on their game and aim for their first-ever IPL title.
On X (formerly Twitter), Zinta stressed the need for team cohesion and listening to their coaching staff. She posted:
"My message to @PunjabKingsIPL players this year is - Cut out the noise, work on the game, listen to Ricky, play as a team & have loads of fun on the ground & WIN for all of us this year Ting!"
Striving for a Turnaround in IPL 2024
Punjab Kings, being an original IPL franchise, have had trouble in providing steady success within the tournament. In their twelve-year history starting in 2008, PBKS has been in the playoffs only twice—their best so far being their runners-up appearance in 2014 when they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the finals.

Owner Preity Zinta has a clear message for Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2025 🏆❤️#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/z8W7ybSp21

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 28, 2025

ALSO SEE: Asia Cup 2025: A Cricketing Spectacle Awaits

Despite their constant squad revamps and regular change of leaders, Punjab Kings have not managed to find the winning recipe. Zinta's recent message, though, suggests a new plan for the next season with a focus on team bonding, strategy clarity, and the coach Ricky Ponting's influence.

Shreyas Iyer in Punjab Kings Colors?
A dominant topic of conversation from the gone-viral photograph attached to Zinta's message is that of Shreyas Iyer's appearance in a Punjab Kings shirt. Even though the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain isn't tied with PBKS on record, this has provoked a broad lot of guessing on fans' ends regarding prospective trade-offs or captains for the squad.
If Punjab Kings can sign Iyer, it would be a game-changer, given his leadership skills and capacity to stabilize the batting order. No official word on this at present, though.
Punjab Kings' Road to Redemption
With Ricky Ponting's tactical wisdom and Zinta's strong backing, PBKS supporters expect a change this year. The management seems intent on ensuring stability, minimizing unnecessary player changes, and emphasizing effective leadership.
With Punjab Kings preparing for IPL 2025, the question is still big: Can they now lift their first-ever IPL title and leave behind years of not doing enough?

Following in the footsteps of two time ODI World Cup winning captain Ricky Ponting, another Australian Trevor Bayliss is expected to leave his coaching role in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Bayliss the head coach of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) may part ways with the Mohali based team before the IPL season 2025.

The Punjab Kings did not make it to the playoffs this year, finishing ninth out of ten teams. They managed only six wins and suffered nine losses. The last time PBKS made it to the playoffs was in 2014.

Bayliss’s contract ends

Trevor Bayliss’s two-year contract with the Punjab Kings, owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, has ended. Reports suggest that the team is unlikely to renew his contract for the next T20 season.

According to Cricbuzz, the Punjab Kings are looking for an Indian coach for the 2025 IPL season. They are considering several candidates including Sanjay Bangar, who was previously the head coach and is now the director of cricket development.

A board meeting to decide on the head coach role was scheduled for July 22, but it didn’t happen. The team is still exploring other options before the mega-auction later this year.

Why Bayliss might leave

Sources say PBKS wants an Indian coach to lead the team. Although they don’t have issues with Bayliss’s coaching style, they are unhappy with the results over the past two seasons. Despite having a strong squad, the team has not performed well. Bayliss took over from Anil Kumble before the 2023 season.

Indian coaches are popular in the IPL. Recently, Gautam Gambhir and Chandrakant Pandit guided the Kolkata Knight Riders, while Ashish Nehra led the Gujarat Titans to the title in 2022. Dinesh Karthik will join the Royal Challengers Bengaluru as a batting coach for the upcoming season.

Bayliss has coached Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings, as well as the England cricket team. However his recent T20 record has been disappointing. The PBKS management will review the last season’s performance before making any final decisions.

Future of IPL coaching

Rahul Dravid is drawing interest from several IPL teams. The future of Ashish Nehra and Vikram Solanki with the Gujarat Titans is uncertain. The Kolkata Knight Riders are also expected to appoint new coaches after Gautam Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar, and Ryan ten Doeschate moved to the Indian team.