Haddin supports Ponting’s vision to create ‘the best-ever Punjab Kings team’

Haddin Backs Ponting’s Ambitious Vision to Build ‘Greatest-Ever Punjab Kings Team’

Ricky Ponting has set a bold objective for IPL 2025: to build “one of the greatest Punjab Kings teams of all time.” And assistant coach Brad Haddin is fully on board. Speaking ahead of the team’s season opener against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, Haddin said Ponting’s vision is not a pressure point, but a source of motivation.

“That’s exciting for the players,” Haddin said when asked whether Ponting’s statement could weigh on the squad. “In today’s game, you want to push players to aim for greatness. That’s what we want to see daily—players improving constantly, getting better than they were yesterday or the week before.”

Setting high standards, he explained, comes from confidence in the squad. “We’re very happy with the group we’ve built. They’ve been outstanding in training camps, and now they’re just eager to get out there and play real cricket. Camps are over—it’s time to perform.”

Punjab Kings made waves at the auction by acquiring Shreyas Iyer for INR 26.75 crore and naming him captain of a revamped side. The squad blends experience—Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh—with youth, including Priyansh Arya and Suryansh Shedge. It also boasts several seasoned all-rounders in Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Marco Jansen.

Asked about the strong Australian presence in the support staff, Haddin shifted focus to Iyer’s leadership. “We’ve got a driven captain who’s had success both with India and in this format. He’s unified the group—players and staff are aligned. His standards and habits are setting the tone for the entire squad.”

When it comes to their style of play, Haddin was clear: Punjab Kings aim to play bold, attacking cricket, particularly during the powerplay.

“If you look at how the IPL has evolved, especially with the impact player rule, players at the top now have more freedom,” he said. “Last year, we saw a spike in powerplay scoring. That’s likely to increase again. For us, it’s all about giving players the license to be brave, stay in the moment, and not overthink the game.”

He kept specifics under wraps but teased that fans will be excited by the approach. “This is a fresh squad from a new auction. Every player has been picked with a specific role in mind. Especially in those first six overs, we have some guys who’ll bring energy and aggression. Whoever we send out will be exciting to watch.”

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