"He would never give up": Rayudu praises Ricky Ponting

New Delhi [India] April 16 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu has praised Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting's coaching style, highlighting his pursuit of success and his ability to motivate players.
He believes that Ponting's coaching, combined with a consistent team selection, would lead to significant success for PBKS in the IPL.
"I have known the best of captains who wouldn't have taken this score [111] seriously. Trust me, but this guy did. [Coach Ricky] Ponting does. Ponting would never give up. That's a great combination that they have going. But only if they don't change the players as often as they do. And keep it constant. I think they'll get a lot of success in the IPL," Ambati Rayudu said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Rayudu believes that PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer possesses a calm and composed demeanour, both as a person and as a captain, which contributed to his effectiveness in leadership.
"He [Shreyas] has that composure as a person and as a captain, and that is why I feel... [Bishop] has said he is a good captain, and that's because he has that composure," he added.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) pulled off a remarkable 16-run victory over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a low-scoring thriller at Mullanpur in the IPL 2025 season. The match will be remembered for PBKS successfully defending the lowest total ever in the league's history -- 111 runs.
Defending 112, PBKS bowled out the defending champions for 95 in 15.1 overs at Mullanpur. A phenomenal bowling effort, led by Yuzvendra Chahal and Marco Jansen, turned the tables after a poor batting performance.
With this win, PBKS are at the fourth spot, with four wins and two losses, with eight points. KKR are at the sixth spot, with three wins and four losses, giving them six points. (ANI)