Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 2 (ANI): Following his side's win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting lauded the team for their effort and urged them to not take anything for granted and keep working hard.

PBKS continued their stellar start to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season with a commanding eight-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Restricting LSG to a total of 171/7, PBKS chased down the target in just 16.2 overs while giving away only 2 wickets. This second consecutive win has placed them firmly in the second position on the points table.

Following the match, head coach Ricky Ponting's message to the team was captured, where he said, as quoted by a PBKS press release, 'So many good things are happening. Let us not take anything for granted with anything we are doing. Our attitudes have been spot on. We are just starting to scratch the surface. So let us keep working hard together as a family as one, and we are going to get better every day.'

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Nehal Wadhera, who contributed a crucial unbeaten 43 off 25 balls, also revealed that he was not expecting to be a part of the Playing XI, but head coach Ponting informed him about the same before the team went out to bat and chase the total.

Sharing his mindset before going out to bat, in the post-match press conference, Nehal said, 'The way Prabhsimran and Iyer were batting, it was tremendous. They just went with one flow, and the ball just kept on connecting. And later on, when I came in, I just had a clear thought that if it is in my range, I am going to go 100 per cent with it. And if it is not in my range, I will just go for a single or double. But I had planned that I was not going to put our captain under pressure. I am going to take all the charge, and I am going to attack all the bowlers.'

Player-of-the-Match Prabhsimran Singh, who scored 69 runs off 34 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes, also gave an insight into his batting technique and shared, 'I was keeping it simple and had decided that I will back my game. When I went in and middled a few balls and then hit a few fours, I realized that I will stay on the crease for a longer time and tried to score as many runs as possible in fewer balls.'

The Punjab Kings' bowling attack also played a significant role. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 43 runs, including crucial wickets at the start and end of the innings.

With two wins in two matches, the Punjab Kings are currently second in the IPL points table. Their next challenge will be their first home game of the season against the Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh. (ANI)