‘Coach I am 100% let me out there’ – Ricky Ponting reveals who Yuzvendra Chahal fought his way to play vs KKR

Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) played one of the best matches in the history of Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday. PBKS were bowled out for just 111 before Yuzvendra Chahal’s four wicket haul saw KKR getting bowled out for 95. Chahal, as per Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting had been battling shoulder injury that was picked up in the previous match Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

Ponting spoke to the host broadcasters at the end of the game and lauded IPL’s leading wicket-taker. The former Aussie skipper said, “What about Chahal tonight? How good a spell of bowling was that! He actually had a fitness test before the game today with his shoulder injury he picked up in the last game, and I grabbed him out of the warm-up, looked him in the eye, and said, 'Mate, are you okay?' He said coach I am 100 percent right, let me out there.”

The 34-year-old leg-spinner bowled four overs and picked four wickets for 28 runs. Chahal first dismissed KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane for 17 runs. The veteran star then turned the game with the scalp of Angkrish Raghuvanshi for 37 and then dismissed Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh in a single over. 

PBKS coach lauds team spirit after win 

Needing 112 runs to win, Kolkata Knight Riders at one stage were coasting at 62 runs for the loss of two wickets. The last eight wickets fell for just 33 as PBKS defended the lowest ever IPL score and won the game by 16 runs. Marco Jansen who ended with three wickets got the final wicket of the game when he dismissed Andre Russell for 17 runs. 

Speaking to the host broadcaster at the end of the game, Ponting added that his heart was pounding fast during the game. Ponting said, “The heart rate is still up there. I'm 50 years now and don't need more game like these. Defending 112, with 16 runs up our sleeves. We actually said to the guys at the halfway mark that these really small chases , like these, are sometimes the hardest. The wicket wasn't easy, as you can see that right through the game, it was definitely holding up.”

The former Aussie legend also said that this was his best win as a coach in the IPL. He said, “I reckon at the halfway mark there weren't too many people around the world that thought that we could have defended it and we have, credit to all the boys. They were terrific tonight. Wins like these are always the sweetest one, and if you can pull this off, then you should be as good as win as most guys been involved in and I have coached a lot of games in the IPL and that might just be about the best win I ever had."