Punjab Kings (PBKS) ensured a top-two finish in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 group stage after securing a seven-wicket win against Mumbai Indians (MI) on 26 May. However, despite the win sealing their first playoff appearance since 2014, head coach Ricky Ponting warned that the team hasn바카라t 바카라achieved anything yet바카라. (As It Happened)
바카라It (top two) is a great achievement till now, but really, if you look back, we haven바카라t achieved anything yet,바카라 Ponting said, as per ESPNcricinfo. 바카라That바카라s the one thing I've been saying to the players since the moment we qualified.바카라
바카라The vision for me was always to finish in the top two, and we바카라ve got there now,바카라 he added.
The win over MI propelled PBKS to the top with 19 points, although Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) can also go level with them if they win their final group-stage match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
A top-two finish will guarantee PBKS a place in Qualifier 1 in the playoffs, where the Punjab-based franchise will get a second chance if they lose their first match. It바카라s a great advantage to have in their pursuit of their maiden title, but Ponting warned against complacency.
바카라We바카라ve enjoyed our time in each other바카라s company for the last ten weeks,바카라 he said. 바카라But we바카라ve got another week to go yet.바카라
The Australian head coach also heaped praise on captain Shreyas Iyer, with whom he had worked before for Delhi Capitals (DC). In fact, it was Ponting바카라s fixation on acquiring his services that saw Punjab bid as high as INR 26.75 crore for the batter in the mega auction.
바카라It was pretty obvious that how much money I was willing to spend on him at the auction,바카라 Ponting said. Iyer, for now, seems to have repaid that faith, with 514 runs in 14 matches at an average of 51, including five half-centuries.
In the previous match against MI, the captain was unbeaten at 26 runs, after two stunning knocks from Priyansh Arya (62 off 35) and Josh Inglish (73 off 42) wrapped up an easy chase for the Kings with nine balls to spare.
