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"Treat Chahal And Bus Driver Same" Shashank On What Iyer, Ponting Told PBKS Players

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Yuzvendra Chahal, Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer [Source: @disprin46, @Was_Guri/x.com]Yuzvendra Chahal, Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer [Source: @disprin46, @Was_Guri/x.com]

There is a fresh wind blowing through the Punjab Kings camp this IPL season and it smells like belief. For a team that has often been stuck in a rut, the turnaround in 2025 has been nothing short of sensational and at the heart of it all is the Ricky Ponting-Shreyas Iyer power duo, turning things around like they have got the Midas touch.

Shashank Singh Opens Up On Ricky Ponting’s Impact And Punjab Kings’ Culture Shift

After PBKS sealed a top-two spot in the playoffs with a thumping win over Mumbai Indians in Jaipur, Shashank Singh dropped the curtain on what has really been happening behind the scenes.

Shashank, who has now become a mainstay in the PBKS lineup, couldn’t stop raving about the man in charge.

“By far the best team coach I’ve ever played under,” he said about Ricky Ponting. That’s saying something, especially when you’ve had Brian Lara in your corner during your Sunrisers Hyderabad days.

"I’ve mentioned two names before, Brian Lara Sir, and now I’m mentioning Ricky Ponting sir because he has changed the team culture, he has changed our mindset, he has changed our belief. So all those things, the credit has to be to him because obviously he’s the one who changed our perspective towards the game,” added Shashank.

According to Shashank, Ponting was adamant on flipping the team culture upside down, right from the media crew to the support staff to the last man in the dugout. And it has worked like magic.

One line from Shashank's presser stood out and honestly, it hits hard.

“Day 1, he and Shreyas, both told us, they will treat Yuzi Chahal, the most senior player, and a bus driver, the same. I mean, this is something… and they’ve maintained this. They’ve given the same respect to Yuzi Chahal, and they’ve given the same respect to our bus driver. So this says a lot about the team”

That’s the kind of leadership that builds a dressing room, not just a team. When your coach and captain lead with respect and humility, it rubs off on everyone.

The Ponting-Iyer Reunion

This isn't the first time Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer have teamed up to make headlines. They were the brains behind Delhi Capitals’ only IPL final appearance in 2020.

Now, they have got Punjab Kings one win away from a shot at their first-ever IPL title. The chemistry is real and it’s delivering results again.

As PBKS gear up for Qualifier 1 in front of their home fans, one thing is for sure, this team isn’t just playing to win, they are playing for each other. And sometimes, that’s what makes all the difference.