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

In the IPL 2025, PBKS has finally made it to the playoffs after a ten-year drought. And with only one league game left, they are now leading the points table. The runners-up from 2014 secured a spot in the top two to advance to Qualifier 1 and secured two opportunities to compete for the championship.

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 for altering the franchise’s culture and mentality.

“The finest team coach I’ve ever worked with, hands down. In addition to Brian Lara, Sir, I have already praised Ricky Ponting, Sir because he has altered the team culture, our perspective, and our beliefs. After PBKS trounced the Mumbai Indians in Jaipur on Monday, Shashank told reporters, “So all those things, the credit has to be to him because obviously he’s the one who changed our perspective towards the game.”

Ponting, 33, said, “Caring about each other, respecting each other, feeling happy in each other’s performance,” when asked what cultural changes he had brought about. It’s so simple to say all these things, and it goes without saying that you must do this and that. Building it, however, is another matter. He thus ensured that.

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

On the first day, he and Shreyas informed us that they would treat bus drivers and the most experienced player, Yuzi Chahal, equally. They have insisted that they have treated Yuzi Chahal with the same respect that they have treated our bus driver, which is something very noteworthy. Thus, this speaks well of the team,” Shashank said.