Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer with head coach Ricky Ponting. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting credited skipper Shreyas Iyer’s tactical nous for the team’s emphatic victory over Lucknow Super Giants, highlighting the decision to promote Josh Inglis to No. 3 as a key turning point in the match.
After PBKS lost opener Priyansh Arya for just one, Iyer’s call to send in Inglis early helped steady the innings. The Australian struck 30 off just 14 balls — including three sixes and a four off Mayank Yadav — forming a brisk 48-run partnership with Prabhsimran Singh.
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“It was actually a move that the captain came up with,” Ponting revealed post-match. “Shreyas thought, on that sort of a pitch and against that attack, Inglis would be the right man if we lost an early wicket. Mayank generally bowls short early on, and that suits Inglis. As you saw, those pull shots were pretty amazing.”
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The move allowed PBKS to hold back middle-order firepower in Iyer, Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh — a strategy that paid off. Powered by Prabhsimran’s explosive 91 and cameos from Iyer (45) and Shashank (33 not out), PBKS posted a daunting 236/5.
“We bat really deep — Azmatullah is at number nine — so our top order plays with freedom. Once we were 70-plus in the powerplay, all the momentum was with us,” Ponting said.
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Ponting also praised Prabhsimran’s consistency and hunger. “I challenged both Priyansh and Prabhsimran to go big. He fell a bit short of a hundred, but he’s been outstanding throughout.”
Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball, taking 3/16 to derail LSG’s chase early. “He’s getting more confident each game. That first over set the tone,” Ponting said.
With this win, PBKS climbed to second in the table. Meanwhile, LSG must now win all their remaining matches and hope other results go their way to stay in the playoff hunt.
