Ambati Rayudu Attacks Ricky Ponting For PBKS’ Defeat vs RCB

The Punjab Kings, with the seven-wicket defeat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025, have now dropped down to the fourth position in the points table with a net run rate of +0.177.

They faced a massive challenge against the 2016 runners-up, especially with their batting department against the spinners in the middle overs and the death overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood’s prime execution of the yorkers didn’t allow the batters to free their arms.

PBKS batters struggle against RCB spinners

Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh made a very good start in the powerplay for PBKS before Rajat Patidar, the RCB captain, introduced spin in the fifth over of the innings. On the second ball of Krunal Pandya, Arya looked to slog across the line but failed to get the desired connection to find the mid-off fielder.

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In his very next over, the Baroda spinner dismissed Prabhsimran for 33 runs in 17 balls. The wicket-keeper batter danced down the ground to launch the very first ball after the drinks break. Even Shreyas Iyer played the wrong shot to get dismissed on six runs.

None of their batters were able to put a decent score on the board. Josh Inglish went back to cut the short ball through the point region, but Suyash Sharma broke the stumps for five runs. Marcus Stoinis had no idea of the googly.

The Australian played the wrong line of the delivery as Suyash beat him in the inside edge of the blade for one run in two deliveries. Shashank Singh managed just 31 runs in 33 balls in the death overs as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood executed the plans so well.

PBKS, for the second successive home game, has failed to put up a commendable performance with the bat against the spinners, as apart of a few Indian batters, most of the overseas players have no idea of the spinners and he revolution of the deliveries.

Ambati Rayudu blames Ricky Ponting for PBKS’s struggle

The former Indian middle-order batter, Shreyas Iyer, has taken a dig at the PBKS head coach, Ricky Ponting, feeling the team atmosphere could be the reason behind it. Rayudu blamed Stoinis’ low batting position in the side, claiming that their coach is perhaps under pressure to deliver for the side.

A few days ago, before the KKR game, the camera found Ponting having a heated argument with Stoinis over something. The all-rounder’s form has dropped against the spinners in the middle overs.

“I think they are just not getting the balance right in terms of their intent, and no doubt, Krunal and Suyash bowled well. But you would expect someone like Stoinis to pick a googly after all these years in international cricket.” Rayudu expressed this during a recent interaction on Star Sports.

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“But that is something you don’t see often with top cricketers missing googlies. Maybe he is not in the zone. Maybe he is upset with something that is going around in the team, or himself, or his batting position.” The Hyderabad-born addressed.

PBKS aims to turn the tables after a lengthy break

PBKS will now enjoy a long break of six days before their next clash on Saturday for the second round of the tournament against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens.

They are currently in the fourth position and will need at least four wins in the last six group-stage encounters to confirm their qualification for the IPL 2025 playoffs.