‘Ricky Ponting has a strong control on the team’ – Shikhar Dhawan on Australia legend’s coaching tactics

Shikhar Dhawan and Ricky Ponting. (Photo Source: Delhi Capitals)

Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan emphasized the importance of strong leadership in building a winning team, reflecting on Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The franchise finished as runners-up after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final.

Dhawan highlighted the leadership duo of PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, calling them a ‘nice combo’. He praised Ponting’s influence, noting that the former Australian captain displayed his strength as a coach during PBKS’ impressive campaign in IPL 2025.

“Shreyas and Ricky Ponting are a wonderful combination and they both made a very good team this year. Ricky is a very positive person, very strong. His thought process and his skills stand out. A good player can make you win matches, but if you want to win the tournament, the entire team needs to perform well. Hence, making a good team is really essential and Ricky Ponting is very strong as a coach,” Dhawan said on Raj Shamani podcast.

The left-handed batter also reflected on his time under Ponting’s guidance at Delhi Capitals (DC). He said Ponting’s approach uplifted the entire squad, adding that the veteran cricketer was always clear about performances and areas that needed improvement, qualities that made him a figure the whole team looked up to.

“We worked together when I was in Delhi Capitals, and it was a really good stint. He used to appreciate small things—even if you scored 15-20 runs, he would acknowledge it. He also spent time with net bowlers and players on the bench, which really boosted their confidence,” Dhawan noted.

“He was very clear on good performances and also on the areas we lacked in. His communication was very good, and his command over the boys was excellent. The players respected him and looked up to him because he had strong control, but in a very positive way,” he added.

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