June 4, IPL 2025 Final: Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting said that emotional Virat Kohli kneeling down with moist eyes shows how desperate he was for the IPL title for the last 18 seasons and how much winning this tournament means to the players. Kohli could not control his emotions in the last moments of the IPL final on Tuesday. His team Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Punjab Kings by six runs to win the title of this league started in 2008 for the first time.
Kohli had tears in his eyes…’ Ponting said after the final, ‘You can see in his eyes in the last over, tears were coming from his eyes. This is what it means for the players, this is what it means for everyone.’ The former Australian captain said, ‘Chennai (Super Kings) has won the title many times, Mumbai (Indians) has also won many times, but winning this tournament is not easy. It is as tough as you can think. It is very difficult to become the champion of this league.’
Kohli had said Test cricket is supreme
After becoming the champion, Kohli had advised the young cricketers to respect Test cricket and said that the traditional format of the game is supreme. Giving his own example, Ponting said that he can understand what Kohli meant. Kohli told the broadcasters, ‘This is one of the best moments of my career, but still it is five places below Test cricket. That is how much respect Test cricket has in my eyes.’
Ponting agreed with Kohli
He said, ‘I would only urge the youth to respect Test cricket. If you play well in Test cricket, then wherever you go in the world, people will respect you. If you want to get respect in cricket in the world, then play Test cricket and give it your all.’ Ponting, one of the greatest players of the game, agreed with Kohli’s words about the traditional format of cricket.
‘My favorite format is Test cricket’
Ponting said, ‘Yes, I agree with this. I am probably one of the biggest well-wishers of the game. Whether I am coaching or commentating, my first love is Test cricket. That will always be there. I was fortunate enough to play in a few World Cups and at the highest level of the game. I may not be able to play anymore, but if I am able to play, my choice will be Test cricket.’
‘Kohli’s Test career has been fantastic’
Ponting said, ‘I completely understand what he means. You know, his Test match career was fantastic and his career in limited overs has been even better. It is still going on.’ Ponting said that Shreyas Iyer’s leadership ability can be gauged from the fact that he is the only captain who has taken three different teams to the IPL finals. Iyer’s stature has grown a lot this season as a person, player and captain.
Ponting’s statement on Shreyas
Iyer scored 604 runs in 17 matches this season with the help of six half-centuries. During this, his average was 50.33 and strike rate was 175. Ponting said, ‘Shreyas has been a very important part of this season, no doubt about it. His stature has grown as a person, a player and a captain.’ Ponting praised Iyer’s commitment and said that he was confident that the right-handed batsman would be selected in the Test team for the England tour.
‘I thought Shreyas would be selected in the Test team’
He said, ‘I thought he would be selected in the Test team, but the selectors chose the second option. You can feel the commitment in the eyes of some people. Iyer looked very determined from the beginning. Before the Test team was chosen, he made a big impression. Like me, he was prepared to create an instant impression by bringing a fresh team and franchise, and he succeeded. Now, he is the only skipper to have guided three distinct franchise teams to the IPL championship game.This in itself tells the story of his leadership.
Read More: Virat Kohli’s 18-Year Dream Comes True: RCB Lifts IPL Trophy!
