EXCLUSIVE| 'Great recognition of hard work': Ricky Ponting hails Shreyas Iyer’s rise to India T20 captaincy

MUMBAI: Having worked in close tandem with Shreyas Iyer at Punjab Kings, where the duo formed a successful captain-coach combination over the last two IPL seasons — PBKS reached the IPL final last year and narrowly missed out on the playoffs this time — Australia’s former captain Ricky Ponting was naturally pleased for his franchise skipper and endorsed India’s selectors for appointing him as the T20 captain for the tours of Ireland and England, and also the 2026 Asian Games later this year.

“It's great recognition of what he's done over the last three or four years really. I mean, you wind the clock back three years ago of IPL cricket. He obviously captained KKR to a title there. You know, captained us, Punjab, into the final last year and did a terrific job captaining our team again this year, albeit not making it through to the qualifiers. But the thing that stands out most for me about him is how he's conducted himself and how he's handled himself over the last three or four years. Like there's, I'm sure there's probably been times when he's felt that he probably should have been picked in a few more Indian teams that he has, but he's always just got back to work. He's put his head down and he's worked really hard and he's become a much better player now than I think he was four or five years ago,” an elated Ponting told TOI in an exclusive interview on Saturday, minutes after the decision was made official.




“I've been the one endorsing him for the role and telling the Indian selectors that if they give him a chance, I don't think they'll be disappointed. As I said, it's a great achievement. It's terrific recognition for the hard work he has put in over a long period of time, and I'm sure he'll do a great job as captain of India,” Ponting added.

Ponting felt that Iyer had improved as a captain over the years.

“And he's certainly a better captain now, a better leader, and probably a more mature and more well-rounded person now. So yeah, I think it's great recognition. I think he'll do a terrific job."

"And when you think of some of the other candidates, I mean, it's full credit to him that he's the captain now because there's a lot of other great players in India. We know that there's a lot of great players in that current Indian team. And that team has had great success as well over the last few years. So for them to name him as captain, I think it's great recognition and great reward,” Ponting said.

The former Australia captain revealed that Iyer is a highly motivated individual and that he did not need many motivational chats, even when the batter was being overlooked for India’s T20 side despite performing well in the IPL.

“I don't have to have too many motivational chats with him. He's a very self-motivated person. He wants to be the best player and the best leader that he can be. That's if he's playing for Mumbai, if he's playing for Punjab Kings, if he's playing for India. He just wants to be the best version of himself that he can be. So, it's no secret,” Ponting said.

Explaining why he chose to “go hard” for Iyer in the IPL auction a couple of years ago, where Punjab Kings splurged Rs 26.75 crore to buy him, Ponting said, “I've said it for the last couple of years. And it's the reason, you know, when I took over as coach of Punjab, the reason that I went so hard for Shreyas Iyer in the auction is because I wanted to work with him again. And I knew he was the best person in the auction that was going to take our franchise forward."

"So I've got a long history with him. We've had some great times together. You know, we talk a lot about his batting as well, not just his captaincy, but we talk a lot about his batting and making sure that we're getting his batting right and he's making plenty of runs.”

“And he's done that, you know, the last couple of years. We've been back together again at the Punjab Kings. He's done that really well,” he said.

Ponting said he would soon have a congratulatory chat with Iyer, in which he would give him an idea of what the coveted job entails.

“So, yeah, I'm absolutely thrilled for him. Now that it's official, I'll actually give him a call and have a chat with him and congratulate him and make sure that he makes the most of it and understands the enormity of the role that he's been given,” Ponting said.

Asked whether Iyer would be able to replicate the kind of success he achieved as Punjab Kings captain — taking the franchise to the IPL final last year and narrowly missing out on a playoff berth this season — Ponting replied, “Yeah, no doubt. I think he'll have great respect from all of his teammates. And that's a big part of it. And I think he's earned that over the last couple of years. With everything not going exactly the way that he would have wanted to, he's worked his way not only back into the (Indian) team, but back into the team and as the captain.

“So I think, look, he's in a terrific place to be captain of India right now because he's on top of his own game. And as I said, he's at that age now as well where he just understands himself and understands what leadership is all about. And his personal form has also been great, I believe. He made 600 (604 runs in 17 matches at 50.33) last year. And this year, again, around 500 runs (498 runs in 14 matches at 55.33). So he's been batting pretty well as well,” Ponting said.

“He's someone that likes the big moments, the big games. You even think back to whenever we've (PBKS) been in a run chase, it's generally been him that's been standing tall at the end and soaking up the pressure and getting us across the line,” he said.

Ponting felt that Iyer’s ability to deliver in crunch situations convinced the selectors about his ability to lead India in T20Is.

“I think that's probably one of the big things that the Indian selectors have looked at, just how he's handled himself under pressure. Because it's, you know, when you're captain of India, it's a high-pressure job. And I think, you know, more often than not, Shreyas has always found a way to play well in those big pressure moments. So I think as a player, he'll be fine,” Ponting said.

“No, he was very calm right the way through it. We're all disappointed come the end of the season. Having got off to the start that we did and then not being able to qualify was a disappointing end to the tournament for us. But look, whenever Shreyas speaks, everyone listens. His teammates don't take their eyes off him when he's got something to say around the team. That's why I think he's grown into that. He's grown into that year on year. He's grown into a really good leader. So am I surprised by it? No, I'm actually not. I'm not surprised by it at all,” Ponting said when asked about how did Iyer respond when Punjab Kings lost six games in a row in IPL 2026

'We knew it was coming'

“At Punjab Kings, We’re all very happy and elated. We knew it was coming. We saw that he had all the traits of a great captain- He is calm, cool, and the way he approaches the game. He’s born to be a captain," said Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon.

Shreyas’ father Santosh Iyer was naturally pleased, particularly as his son had managed to come a long way after suffering a life-threatening spleen injury last year in October while taking a catch during the third ODI in Sydney against Australia. “We’re very happy. We are very happy for the hard work that he has done. After that injury and all, it was a big setback for him. Yes, last year's injury. Yes, he got injured. And he was dropped also. He wasn't selected in the T20. But the competition is so big, you cannot complain also. All the players are good. All of them are good,” Iyer stated to this paper.

Santosh said that Shreyas was disheartened when he was snubbed from India’s T20- team last year, but he “doesn’t keep brooding.” “Yes, he was a little disappointed, but he is a good boy. He doesn't keep brooding. He takes everything positively, and he starts working on it again. That's his plus point. He doesn't cry. He doesn't say, I didn't get selected. It's okay, I didn't get tested. I will work harder.’

Former India batsman and ex-Delhi Capitals and Mumbai coach Pravin Amre has been coaching Iyer since he was 12, when the Mumbai batter began learning cricket at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana's cricket academy. Over the years, Amre has witnessed many of the batter's ups and downs. "The team management's backing was very important and I'm sure he will also do the job that is expected from Team India. And in this journey of his, especially I was always right behind him as his coach. As a leader, I think he finds his way. The credit goes to him because it's not easy to lead an IPL side. He has shown that what support he gets from teammates is very important. He has got the trust of his teammates, which is important as a leader. Sometimes you have to be fair (as a captain), and I think that he has always done that. Whenever there are important games, he leads from the front, whether it comes to his batting or his fielding. His fielding has also improved in the past few years, which is important. As a leader, I think his game awareness has improved a lot," Amre praised.

"He has gone through the grind to reach here, and with the support of his team, I think he will come with the flying colors. I'm confident he can do that," Amre added.

Amre felt that Iyer's vast experience in the IPL weighed in his favour. international "He has now got the experience of playing in the IPL now for more than 10 years, and that really count in international white-ball cricket. Team India has always backed him, which shows as he's India's ODI vice-captain. So, I think that's really helped him. For any player, it's always an honour to lead the Indian team." he added

Amre said he was expecting Iyer 's elevation to India' T20 captaincy. "He is the vice-captain of Team India (in ODIs). So he was in their scheme, basically."

“I met Shreyas for the first time in my life at the pre-season camp of our team in Dharamshala, three weeks before IPL-2025. I chatted with him for about 15 minutes. And within 15 minutes of meeting him, I could tell that he was a natural born leader. Luckily, I am a leader in what I do, so I can make that out! I told him that one day, sooner than later, you will be the Indian captain. He smiled at me. I said, ‘When that day happens, remember what I said!,” Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia told TOI.

“I mean, he has been the captain in the IPL for nine years now. 2027 will be his 10th year as an IPL captain! The IPL is the Premier cricket tournament in the world at the highest level. I have a high regard for Surya-he is a wonderful player and captain, but Shreyas will also be a good (India T20) captain” Wadia added.