'Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting treat Yuzvendra Chahal same as bus driver': PBKS batter credits duo for 'changing culture'

Ricky Ponting's 'Chahal-bus driver' mantra wins praise for shaping PBKS culture in IPL 2025. (Photo: IPL)

After years of subpar play, Punjab Kings began the process of overhauling their squad last year ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. As they went into the auction with the largest purse, the team only kept two players, both of whom were uncapped, and hired Australia great Ricky Ponting as head coach. They quickly gave the IPL winning skipper, Shreyas Iyer, the team's captaincy after spending a fortune to get him.

In the IPL 2025, PBKS has finally made it to the playoffs after a ten-year wait. And with just one league game left of the season, they are presently leading the points table. The runners-up from 2014 secured a spot in the top two to advance to Qualifier 1 and secure two chances to reach the final.

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Shashank Singh, the team's designated finisher and one of the two uncapped batters PBKS kept, is largely responsible for the team's successful season. Ponting is credited by Shashank with altering the franchise's culture and mentality.

“By far the best team coach I’ve ever played. 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," Shashank informed media following Monday's PBKS victory over the Mumbai Indians in Jaipur.

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When asked about the cultural shifts Ponting has brought about, the 33-year-old responded, “Caring about each other, respecting each other, feeling happy in each other’s performance. I mean, it’s very easy to say all these things and obviously you need to do this, you need to do that. But again, building it is a different thing. So he made sure that."

Shashank gave the example of how Ponting and Iyer ensured that each member of the PBKS contingent received the same treatment.

“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 maintained this that 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," Shashank said.