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Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli reacts minutes before their win in the Indian Premier League final cricket match against Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Pointing pointed out the importance of winning the IPL trophy by bringing up the emotional reaction of Virat Kohli when Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated PBKS in the final by 6 runs to clinch their maiden title.
“You can see in his eyes in that last over, he was shedding a tear, that’s what it means to players, that’s what it means to everyone. Chennai (Super Kings) have won it a few times, Mumbai (Indians) have won it a few times, but it’s not an easy tournament to win — it is as simple as that — and you have to think long and hard about that. It’s not easy to win this thing,” Ponting said after the match.
After the match, Kohli had also said in an on-pitch interview that winning the IPL was still five levels under playing Test cricket. Talking about that, Ponting said he could relate to what Kohli said.
“Yeah, I understand that. I’m probably one of the biggest purists of the game still involved, whether I’m coaching or commentating, my first love is Test match cricket, always will be. I was lucky enough to play some World Cups and things like that, but now that I can’t play anymore, this is as close as I can get to being able to play a Test match again. But I totally understand what he means, you know, he had a magnificent Test match career and an even better white-ball career that’s obviously still going,” Ponting said.
PBKS’ impressive run in the IPL came to an end with a six-run defeat to RCB in the final, with the latter ending their 18-year long wait to win the IPL trophy on Tuesday.
Chasing 191, PBKS kept losing wickets in their chase and despite Shashank Singh’s (30-ball 61 not out) late onslaught, which included three fours and six sixes, they fell short.
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