'That we were going...' -Ricky Ponting targets IPL glory with Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings will be looking for an IPL 2025 comeback under Ricky Ponting as their new coach. Before their first game, Ricky Ponting stated that his goal was to build the best Punjab Kings squad in IPL history. PBKS is among the teams that have yet to win the IPL trophy, despite coming very close in 2014—they lost the final. The squad hasn't made it to the playoffs in the ten years since.

After Ponting took charge, the squad had a significant makeover during the IPL 2025 auction, bringing back players like Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis and acquiring huge stars like Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Arshdeep Singh. Ponting stated to meta-creators that the team's ultimate goal is to win the IPL and leave a lasting legacy for the present squad.

"The overall vision for this team is to win the IPL. I told the guys on the very day when I joined the camp in Dharamshala that we were going to create and become the greatest Punjab Kings team that's played. That's the journey that we're on and that doesn't happen overnight. You've got to create that," said Ricky Ponting.

According to Ponting, he wants the team to have a winning mentality. “Winning is an attitude thing. If we turn up to play, the opposition turns up to play; if they want to beat us, then it feels like they're taking something away, and I don't want to let anyone take anything away from me or take anything away from my team,” he said.

Ricky Ponting impressed with young players in squad

When Ponting was asked who players had influenced him early on, he picked Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, and Musheer Khan. "I believe that Priyansh Arya is a really unique prospective opening batter for our team moving ahead in the competition. He's really interesting, depending on how we approach our international makeup. Another individual who has demonstrated remarkable performance thus far in our training is Suryansh Shedge." 

"Musheer Khan is another player who I find impressive when it comes to energy and pleasure. He has already contributed significantly to the organisation.  I have so far really loved working with him on the training field and with the team because of his contagious enthusiasm," he added.

Three IPL teams, including the Punjab Kings, have yet to claim the IPL trophy. After Ponting arrives, with the help of Iyer, the IPL champion, there will be a lot of optimism. Their IPL 2025 season will begin on March 25 against the Gujarat Titans.