On May 26, the Punjab Kings became the first team of the Indian Premier League 2025 to seal a top-two two on the points table, to play in the Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
This is only the third time that Punjab will be playing in the IPL playoffs after qualifying in 2008 and 2014. Moreover, if they manage to hold on to their top spot, it would be the first time that they finish the league table in first place.
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Speaking post-match, PBKS batter, Shashank Singh — one of the only two players who were retained from IPL 2024 — praised and felt a lot of credit has to go to the captain and coach duo of Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting.
Check out what the 33-year-old batter had to say about the team's culture.
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Why did Shashank Singh compare Yuzvendra Chahal to a bus driver?
Following an all-important win against the five-time champions to get the Qualifier 1 spot, Shashank spoke in the press conference about the mindset shift in the Punjab side after the additions of Ponting and Iyer.
Shashank emphasized the care and respect given to everyone in the camp to keep the environment buzzing as they march towards their goal. He went on to say that everyone is treated equally with the same respect, adding that the team's bus driver is given the same respect as senior player Yuzvendra Chahal.
"From Day 1, Ricky and Shreyas both told us. They will treat Yuzvendra Chahal, maybe the most senior player, and our bus driver the same. I mean, this is something they have maintained. They have given the same respect to Yuzi Chahal, and they have given the same respect to our bus driver. So, this says a lot about the team," he said.
The middle-order batter also went on to say how important the Aussie coach has been for him, on a personal level, while lauding his efforts in instilling a special culture and belief in the PBKS camp.
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"[Ponting is] By far, the best team coach I have ever played under. I have mentioned two names before: Brian Lara, sir, and now I am mentioning Ricky Ponting, sir," added Shashank.
"He has changed the team culture, mindset and our belief. All those things, the credit has to go to him. Obviously, he is the one who changed our perspective towards the game.
He also pointed out how Ponting walked the talk himself in respecting and caring everyone to build a special bond in the side.
"[By] Culture — what I meant is caring and respecting each other. It's very easy to say all these things. But building it is a different thing. So, he made sure that he built it," he continued.
What did Shashank Singh say about Shreyas Iyer's role in PBKS' success?
Shashank also credited his former Mumbai teammate for the way he has brought a complete change to the Punjab Kings side since taking over as captain at the start of this season.
He called Iyer's inclusion the best thing to have happened for PBKS, stating that he gives everyone freedom to express themselves.
"Shreyas is a very dear friend. I have known him for the past 10-15 years. But playing under him, with him being the captain, it was the best thing that has happened to me, to be very honest.
"The way he gives freedom to everyone, not only me, but to everyone in the team. When I say everyone — it's the 25 of them [players], plus the support staff, and the people who are in the content team, media team, logistics, everyone. The way he gives them the freedom is something very appreciable about him," Shashank further added.
The batter concluded on the note the results have only been the byproduct of every positive thing being done behind the scenes by the coach and the captain, taking them to the top of the table.
"The way he has developed a culture in the Punjab Kings side. We love each other, we care for each other. That was the main motto of Ricky sir and Shreyas from day one, when we had the meeting, that we need to maintain a culture.
"We need to care for each other. And obviously, results will take care of themselves," he concluded.