Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting says Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal were ‘non-negotiables’ for him

Punjab Kings’ head coach Ricky Ponting has explained his reasoning for why he pushed for the franchise to pursue three Indian stars – Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal – in the IPL 2025 auction.
While Shreyas Iyer was picked up for Rs 26.75 crore, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal cost the Kings Rs 18 crore each in the IPL auction.
“There were three players that I wanted to bring in. One who has been at Punjab Kings for three or four years—Arshdeep Singh. I also wanted to bring in a captain who I have worked with before and who has had a lot of success. So, we went after Shreyas Iyer. I also wanted to bring in Yuzi. So the Indian guys that we have are perfect,” Ponting said in a recent episode of The Howie Games podcast.
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“And then, we had to make a few tweaks as the auction went on to make sure we ended up with a really good squad. I am trying to make things different and rebuild and have the right people around me. But these three were non-negotiables,” the former Aussie international added.
Promising that the season will indeed see a big change, Ponting said, “It’s going to be really different this year with the way that we are perceived, the way we present ourselves, the way that we train, the way that we play, and the way that we are led. Everything is going to be different from the previous years.”
Ponting on fanfare in India
Ponting also opened up on the fanfare he attracts in India.
“When you’re in India, on most flights or when you check into a hotel, there are so many people around trying to have a picture or they wish to grab your bag to drop into your room. But it’s part and parcel of an Australian cricketer’s life when you visit India,” he said. Story continues below this ad
“You appreciate it more when you understand how much it means to them. There are people of all different ages. I think doing commentary gigs in India has allowed a lot of that, as I have spent a lot of time in the country now. I have also been able to work with a lot of players who have talked reasonably highly about me in the media. I think people have learned a lot more about me since my playing days,” Ponting added.
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