Speaking on JioHotstar, Ponting said the recent 10-day pre-season camp set the tone for the new season. “We had a 10-day camp, and even the overseas boys coming in, the moment they sat down, they said, this just feels like we haven’t left, it feels exactly like it was last year.”

He noted that the team retained most of its core personnel, making only one coaching staff change and adding three new players. “We’ve got one change to our coaching staff, and we brought in only three new players. On the back of what was a successful season for us last year, I wanted to do that, create an environment and a culture, which is the hardest thing to do in the IPL, especially when your overseas players turn up three or four days before your first game,” Ponting explained.

Ponting further stressed that continuity in coaching and leadership facilitates consistent messaging and eases player integration. “When you have that continuity, similar messages, and strong leadership, with our players and coaching group very much the same, it does make it easier,” he added.

Punjab Kings achieved a five-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, chasing down a target of 210 with eight balls to spare, marking their second-highest successful run chase in IPL history.

This win also set a world record for the most successful 200-plus run chases in T20 cricket, with Punjab Kings reaching nine such chases, ahead of notable international and IPL teams including Australia, India, and the Mumbai Indians.

Chennai Super Kings scored 209 for five after batting first, led by Ayush Mhatre’s 73. However, Punjab bowlers, notably Yuzvendra Chahal’s economical 1/21, tightened the overs towards the end.

In reply, opener Priyansh Arya made an explosive 39 off 11 balls. Prabhsimran Singh contributed 43 off 34, while captain Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with a well-paced 50 to secure the win.