Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that Shreyas Iyer’s recent strong performance for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, including an unbeaten 87 in Qualifier 2, is run by India’s Test squad for the upcoming England Tour. Iyer’s innings helped PBK win five wickets over Mumbai Indians at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, leading him to the final against Royal Challengers Bangalore.Punjab Kings now stood up the opportunity to win their first IPL championship, if they distance RCB from the title.“I was really confused … but he has accepted that he has really moved forward and he has moved forward. He has a real hunger in his eyes just to do well every time he plays for us and wants to win cricket games and develop as the best leader and captain and he could be that he could.”Ponting expressed disappointment over Iyer’s Test squad exclusion, given that other selected players cut based on similar credentials.
“Some other players who have been selected in that (Test) squad have made it behind the good first -class cricket and good IPL season, which is a pioneer for that selection and Shreyas has done everything the same as some of them as other players.Ponting and Iyer share a successful history from their time at Delhi Capital, where they reached the playoffs from 2019 to 2021, including a final appearance in 2020.Quiz: Who is that IPL player?“We talk about the game and strategy together, and, I think he said last night that he said that” I leave it to take care of strategic goods near Ricky and choose the players, and then he hands it over to me and I put it out on the field. And the way we have worked, it is good to work again this year. “His collaborative approach has proved effective, in which strategic aspects have to be handled, while Iyer executes plans on the region.
