The winds of change at Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer's side failed to defend 245 in Hyderabad, their fifth game of the season, but the team's fortunes changed with the arrival of Ricky Ponting as head coach.
"I have coached a lot of games in the IPL and that might just be about the best win I ever had," said Ponting, who has a history of turning around struggling teams. He previously coached Delhi Capitals, leading them to three consecutive top-three finishes and a runners-up medal in 2020.

Ponting chose Shreyas as his captain, citing their successful partnership in Delhi and Shreyas' quality as a person and player. The team's batting has flourished under Ponting's guidance, with young, uninhibited batters like Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, and Shashank Singh making significant contributions.

PBKS' fab (uncapped) four of IPL 2025

Shreyas has also leveled up with the bat, striking at 148.38 in the PowerPlay, 164.57 in the middle-overs, and 216.12 at the death. The team's top-order has been a key factor in their success, with PBKS having the joint-most 200-plus totals in a single T20 competition (7) and being the only team to have as many while batting first.

The winds of change at PBKS, triggered by Ponting and Shreyas, have brought a refreshing turn of events to the team, which seemed hardwired to underwhelm for more than a decade.