With the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) fast approaching, Punjab Kings (PBKS) held their season launch press conference on Tuesday, March 18, where the team’s leadership, including Head Coach Ricky Ponting, Captain Shreyas Iyer, and CEO Satish Menon, discussed the team’s plans and objectives for the upcoming season.
Ponting expressed his enthusiasm about having Shreyas Iyer as the captain, praising his leadership and experience. “He’s a great human being. He is an IPL-winning captain. We could not have asked for more. He has only joined the camp a couple of days ago, so he is starting to make his mark on the team as a captain and as a leader, and that will evolve over the next few days before we get into our first game. But as I said, I could not have been happier,” said Ponting, as quoted in a release by Punjab Kings.
The former Australian captain also highlighted the well-balanced squad, blending youth with experience. “We have had a really good mix of youth and experience. We have really high-quality Indian players and some really high-quality overseas players as well,” said Ponting. He also expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparations, adding, “The boys have trained really well.”
Shreyas Iyer, excited to work with Ponting again, shared how the coach’s support boosts his confidence. “He supports everyone. When I worked with him for the first time in the past, he made me feel like I am a great player and I can easily excel in this format. The confidence he gives a player is of a different level,” Iyer said. He also discussed the team’s goal, emphasizing that the ultimate aim is to win the trophy. “The goal is to win the trophy, that’s our mindset right now, and it’s a step-by-step process. It’s not like you wake up in the morning and do it, but the way we’re practicing right now and the way we’re sharing our wavelength and camaraderie with each other, it’s going really well,” he added.
CEO Satish Menon echoed the optimism and excitement around the squad, especially with the inclusion of fearless youngsters. “The team is fearless. The youngsters in our squad are fearless. We have a great coach in Ponting and a great IPL-winning captain in Iyer. I don’t think you can get bigger than that,” he said. Menon also highlighted the team’s focus on building a brand rooted in Punjab, with several local players in the squad.
Punjab Kings are set to begin their IPL 2025 campaign on March 25 against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The team will then return to their home ground, the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, for two home games against Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.