IPL 2025: 'Might Just be About The Best Win' - Ricky Ponting Reacts After PBKS Pull Off Thriller Against KKR

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Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting believes the low-scoring thrilling victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025 on Tuesday (April 15) was the best win the Australian great has had in the Indian Premier League.

Defending 112, PBKS bowled out the defending champions for 95 in 15.1 overs at Mullanpur. A phenomenal bowling effort, led by Yuzvendra Chahal (4/28) and Marco Jansen (3/17), turned the tables after a poor batting performance.

Ponting, who is in his first season in-charge of the Punjab-based franchise, hailed his team's incredible spirit and resilience after they pulled off an improbable 16-run win over KKR, successfully defending the lowest total ever in IPL history.

"The heart rate is still up there. I'm 50 years now and don't need more games like these," Ponting admitted to the broadcasters after the match. "Defending 112, with 16 runs up our sleeves. We actually said to the guys at the halfway mark that these really small chases, like these, are sometimes the hardest."

The veteran coach, who has seen countless dramatic games in the IPL, acknowledged the emotional magnitude of this victory, labelling at probably as his best ever in the lucrative league since it's inception.

"Wins like these are always the sweetest ones. And if you can pull this off, then it should be as good a win as most guys have been involved in. I have coached a lot of games in the IPL, and that might just be about the best win I ever had," Ponting added.

The PBKS head coach acknowledged the nature of the wicket, which made run-scoring difficult throughout the game, but was full of praise for Chahal, who was a doubtful starter for the game due to injury.

"The wicket wasn't easy, as you can see that right through the game, it was definitely holding up. But what about Chahal tonight? How good a spell of bowling was that!" Ponting said before adding how determined Chahal was to get on the field.

"He actually had a fitness test before the game today with his shoulder injury he picked up in the last game, and I grabbed him out of the warm-up and looked him in the eye and said, 'Mate, are you okay?' He said, 'Coach, I am 100 per cent right, let me out there.' Yeah, what a spell of bowling!" Ponting noted.