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

The IPL 2025 final is to be a thrilling match-up between long-time franchises Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). both have been a part of the IPL, but neither has won the trophy, making this a historic match since it guarantees that at least one of the three franchises that make up the "Holy Trinity" (PBKS, RCB, and Delhi Capitals) will finally win the trophy. Both teams have a lot to play for, as they have suffered heartbreak and near misses over the years.

Shreyas Iyer's leadership and Ricky Ponting's coaching have led to the remarkable return of Punjab, as this is their first final in eleven years. Iyer has shown great leadership and tactics with a calmness that has restored a belief and resilience that the franchise has not witnessed in a long time. RCB simply wants to win their first title for Virat Kohli, who has been the heart and soul of the franchise since it began. RCB has the same determination to rewrite history.

Iyer was adamant that they will put friendship aside on finals day as Indian teammates. “When you step onto the field, you are at war, and you fight to win,” Iyer stated in the pre-match press conference. “It’s not about comfort. It’s about adapting to the situation and giving everything for the team.” He emphasized the importance of flexibility over fixed strategies, highlighting the maturity of PBKS’s young core.

Iyer’s Redemption Story

For Iyer, this final is more than just a trophy. He has a personal mission after being chopped and dropped from India’s Test squad for the England series and parted ways with KKR after taking them to a title in 2024. He now has the chance to become the first captain to win the IPL with two different teams and the only one to take three different franchises to a final.

Also Read: IPL 2025: RCB vs PBKS Final - A Head to Head breakdown

Iyer was quick to remind everyone with his undefeated 87* in Qualifier 2 against the Mumbai Indians that he can still lead and has form. As PBKS looks to solve their closest to eternity title drought, Iyer is quite literally one win away from making a memory that will shape his legacy.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) has buckled up for the all-important final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the IPL 2025 title shot. PBKS bounced back from the setback against RCB in Qualifier 1 and then defeated Mumbai Indians to confirm a place in the final.

The side led by Shreyas Iyer displayed one of the most dominating performances for the Punjab-based side in the history of the tournament. Now, before the final lap of the race, Iyer showed gratitude to the coach, Ricky Ponting, for their fearless approach as a unit.

During the pre-conference of the RCB vs. PBKS IPL 2025 finale, the skipper said that because of Ponting's extremely good man-management skills, Punjab Kings was able to reach this height. No matter what the situation is, he manages to compose himself and never let down the boys. 

Read More: IPL 2025: Is Tim David going to play in PBKS vs RCB clash?

"Ricky Ponting is an amazing coach who manages the players precisely. One that stands out with him is that he treats every player equally. That’s a real big boost to every individual, whether he is a junior or senior most," Iyer said in the press conference.

Only a step away from creating history 

"I have never seen his emotions going up and down regardless of the result. That’s the sign of a great coach. And the assertive thoughts that he provides with his speeches before and after the game give us an immense boost. After the game, we are always excited to listen to him, and it’s simply phenomenal to work with him."

The interesting fact is that it is the same combination of coach and captain (Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer) that helped Delhi Capitals to the IPL final for the first time back in 2019. Now they are together with PBKS and only a step away from lifting the IPL trophy. 

Bollywood actress Poonam Pandey recently met Australian cricket legend and Punjab Kings (PBKS) mentor Ricky Ponting ahead of the much-anticipated IPL 2025 clash between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians (MI). The encounter is scheduled to take place in Jaipur on Monday, May 26. Poonam shared a photo of the unexpected meeting on her Instagram story, tagging Ponting and delighting her followers. The meeting added a touch of glamour to the IPL buzz, drawing attention as both teams gear up for their final league-stage battle before the playoffs.

Poonam Pandey was also seen at the last Mumbai Indians match against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, further emphasising her continual support of the tournament. As both PBKS and MI have made it to the playoffs, this last league game is important as it is their last chance to place some momentum leading into the knockout stages of the tournament. The post of Pandey and Ponting on social media certainly raised the eyebrows of some, mixing Bollywood royalty and cricketing royalty.

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"Look who I bumped into THE LEGEND @rickyponting," she captioned the picture on her story.

PBKS take on MI in all-important clash in IPL 2025

Despite both Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) having secured playoff berths, their upcoming clash remains highly significant. Punjab, currently second with 17 points from 13 matches, aim to cement a top-two finish with a win that would take them to 19 points. Mumbai, in fourth place with 16 points, also eyes a top-two spot but must rely on the outcome of the Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match on May 27, should they win against Punjab.

PBKS are coming off a six-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals and will be eager to bounce back before the playoffs. On the other hand, MI had a convincing 59-run victory against Delhi in their last match and will look to keep that momentum in the knockout. Both teams know that being in the top two is key, giving teams an additional chance to reach the finals, so despite both teams already being in the playoffs, this matchup in Jaipur is significant.

As military tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, several Australian cricketers and coaches participating in the IPL 2025 are reportedly planning their exit from the country. The various reports also suggest that many overseas players, especially Australians, are increasingly concerned about their safety and are looking for ways home.

A report by The Sydney Morning Herald stated that a number of player agents, who wished to remain anonymous, said Australian players are uneasy given the current situation, and anxiousness is heightened for those near sensitive border areas. Many are making plans to leave if needed.

IPL 2025 has some big-name Australian cricketers participating, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Travis Head. Also involved are established coaches Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin, who are both involved in the tournament. All of whom may be affected by these events.

Match Called Off as Security Concerns Disrupt IPL

The ongoing tensions had a direct impact on the tournament when Thursday's IPL match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in Dharamsala was abandoned. Initially regarded as a possible technical problem with the floodlights, later released information suggests the match was abandoned as a precautionary measure following reports of missile interception by India in nearby Jammu.

Also Read: 11 Major cricket series abandoned midway due to terror attacks

IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal said in a statement to PTI, “Yes, the game has been called off as a precautionary measure, because there are incidents that happened in Jammu... we thought it was prudent to call off the match.” However, Friday's match scheduled between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is still anticipated to take place. The two teams from the Dharamsala match are being moved by special train to Delhi from Pathankot, located around 85 kilometers away.

In an IPL 2025 season that has pushed Chennai Super Kings' depth and resilience to the limit, there has been one name that has stood out consistently Khaleel Ahmed. The left-arm pacer once again justified his place in CSK's lineup during their narrow loss to Punjab Kings at Chepauk, producing a match-winning performance in a high-scoring encounter.

While most CSK bowlers leaked runs at more than nine an over, Khaleel kept things tight and showed control under pressure. He picked up two crucial wickets those of Priyansh Arya and Suryansh Shedge at key moments, helping CSK drag the game into the final over. Though Chennai fell short, Khaleel’s fight and fire gave fans a reason to cheer.

What made the night more special was a heartfelt reunion after the match. Khaleel caught up with the family of Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting his former mentor at Delhi Capitals. The pair spent three seasons together in Delhi, during which Khaleel picked 42 wickets from 33 matches under the leadership of Ponting. Although both shifted to new franchises following IPL 2024 Khaleel with CSK and Ponting leading PBKS they surely do maintain an unbreakable bond between themselves.

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Khaleel and Ponting Share a Strong Bond Despite Moving to New Teams

In a touching moment that melted hearts online, Khaleel posed for a selfie with Ponting, his wife, and children. Chennai Super Kings’ official account captured the moment with a caption that read.

Watch the video:

KHALEEL AHMED MEETING RICKY PONTING & HIS FAMILY 🥺💛

- A lovely video, This is the victory of IPL. pic.twitter.com/9sJBcoH7nZ

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 1, 2025

On the field, the 27-year-old has been among CSK’s top performers. He has taken 14 wickets in 10 matches so far, with an economy rate of 8.85 and an average of 22.57. Most impressively, he leads the tournament in powerplay wickets with nine underlining his knack for early breakthroughs.

After a painful loss to Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in the season, Khaleel showed his fighting spirit, saying, “We’ll take the hits,” as CSK looked to rally in the second half of the campaign.

Chennai now prepares for a crucial clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 3 in Bengaluru. With Khaleel in red-hot form, CSK will be hoping he continues to lead from the front.

In one of the most dramatic comebacks in IPL history, Punjab Kings (PBKS) stunned defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with a 16-run victory in Mullanpur, defending a mere 111—the lowest total ever successfully defended in the league. The win left head coach Ricky Ponting in awe, especially after the team’s recent criticism for failing to defend 245 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. PBKS, after opting to bat first, had a strong start with Prabhsimran Singh (30) and Priyansh Arya (22) adding 39 runs early, but a double-wicket over by Harshit Rana quickly halted their momentum.

From there, wickets tumbled as Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine tightened the screws, eventually bundling PBKS out for 111. During KKR’s chase, they appeared in control at 62 for 2, but an unexpected collapse followed, with the team losing eight wickets for just 33 runs. Yuzvendra Chahal turned the tide with a match-winning spell of 4 for 28, dismantling the middle order, while Marco Jansen delivered a crucial 3 for 17, including the prized scalp of Andre Russell. The stunning fightback showcased PBKS’s resilience and marked one of the greatest defensive efforts in the tournament’s history.

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"Just about the best win that I've ever had and a season-defining moment. The heart rate still up a bit for me - it's probably up over 200. I don't need many of those games like that at my age of over 50 now. It just goes to show how funny a game it is. Only three days ago, we couldn't defend 246 [245] and here we are, defending 112 [111] with 16 runs up our sleeves. We actually said to the guys at the halfway mark that really small chases like this are sometimes the hardest. The wicket wasn't easy. You can see right through the game it was holding up," Ponting told the broadcaster in the post-match

Best win I ever had: Ricky Ponting

Ponting, who witnessed from the sidelines as PBKS defended the lowest total in IPL history, 111 runs ,to secure a stunning 16-run win, remarked that it was the best victory in his IPL coaching career since 2014. He reflected that such wins are always the sweetest and added that if they could pull off a result like that, it would rank among the finest victories most players had ever experienced. Having coached many IPL matches, Ponting felt this might just be the most memorable win he had been a part of.

"But we just said that wins like this are always the sweetest ones. If we can pull this off, then this would be as good a win as most guys have probably been involved in. I've coached a lot of games in the IPL and that might just be about the best win that I've ever had,” Ponting concluded.

Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been admired a lot by former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. He said that Rohit is fully dedicated to playing One Day Internationals (ODIs) and does not want to retire from the format. Ponting complimented Rohit's batting and captaincy and called him a key player for India.

Speaking of Virat Kohli, Ponting said the Indian batsman is the best white-ball cricketer he has ever watched. That's a big compliment, considering Ponting played with and against some cricket legends. Kohli's ODI and T20 numbers, particularly his ability to chase and his consistency, have made him one of the most admired cricketers in the world.

Ponting made it very obvious that he would never lose faith or hope in either Kohli or Rohit. He thinks they have a lot of cricket still left in them and can play at the very best at an older age as well. Regardless of youngsters replacing them, Ponting thinks experience and class speak for themselves, making these two players unique.

Ricky Ponting said "Rohit has made it clear he’s going nowhere in the 50-over game - Virat is the best white-ball player I have ever seen. I will never write those guys off". [Express Sports] pic.twitter.com/TEBw6P33UM

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 7, 2025

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Belief in Experience Over Age
Ricky Ponting's lines reflect how dear experience means to him in cricket. Despite the fact that Rohit and Virat are becoming older, Ricky is sure they can still win India games. He believes they should not judge them for several poor games since great players find a way back every time.

With the major tournaments scheduled soon, India will rely on their veteran stars to take the team forward. Encouragement by legends like Ponting is a clear indication that Rohit and Virat continue to command international respect and can make a huge difference whenever they step out onto the field.

During the match, when N. Wadhera hit a flat six off R. Bishnoi, the ball was flying towards the boundary. To everyone’s shock, a ball boy near the boundary taken a perfect caught, displaying superb calmness and reflexes to the rest of the spectators. The entire stadium roared in astonishment as even the players appreciated the effort put in.

There was a mix of emotions in the crowd, but perhaps one of the best came from PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting, a renowned fielder himself. He was seen being excited, clapping his hands with a smile, which added to the moment. Almost instantly, the video went viral, with fans showcasing their love and adoration for the young boy's skill.

A PERFECT CATCH BY THE BALL BOY. 😄

- Ricky Ponting approves it. ✅pic.twitter.com/FMgeQxzIWF

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 1, 2025

Also Read: IPL 2025 : Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings Match Highlights

This incredible catch definitely added flavour to an already exciting game and proved to the fans that cricket is not only a game; it is a way of life. This is what the IPL aims to portray: love, excitement and hidden wonders among the young fans of cricket.

There are speeches in cricket that are recalled for a lifetime. Ricky Ponting, arguably the greatest captain ever and current coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS), made a motivational speech after his team's stunning victory in IPL 2025. His speech was not about winning a game—it was about passion, unity, and never giving up.

A Season of Resolve and Perseverance
Ponting began by outlining his players' experience during the tournament. He talked about the way they worked against them, about what they had sacrificed, and the efforts that they undertook game after game. He appreciated the contribution each player made to make the team successful at batting, bowling, or even fielding.

"We win together, we lose together, and today, we celebrate together. This is what makes a champion team."

"People doubted us. They said we couldn’t do it. But we showed them what true champions are made of!"

Ricky Ponting’s Winning Speech: A Moment of Inspiration

THE WINNING SPEECH OF COACH RICKY PONTING. 🔥pic.twitter.com/rT761eg9A1

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 26, 2025

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