Ricky Ponting did not hold back his disappointment after Punjab Kings put in a sloppy fielding performance in their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The former Australian captain, serving as head coach, was visibly angry during a live TV interview as his players dropped several straightforward catches.
Ponting was so frustrated after one of the drops that he joked he was “pretty close to throwing the microphone on the field.” His reaction perfectly captured the mood in the PBKS dugout as missed opportunities helped SRH post a big total.
Ricky Ponting calls poor catching a ‘virus’
While speaking to commentators mid-match, Ponting expressed his concern over the team’s repeated fielding lapses. He specifically sympathised with Shashank Singh, who has been struggling in the field lately.
“Poor Shashank Singh, it seems the ball is flying everywhere he’s going. It has been a bit of a virus for us, to be honest. We’ve put a lot of catches down so far this season,” said Ponting.
Ponting noted that the players had trained hard, including under lights the previous day, so there was no excuse for the errors. Shashank has now dropped six catches in the ongoing season, which has become a growing worry for the team.
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Costly mistakes in a big clash
The dropped catches, including efforts from Shashank, Cooper Connolly, and others, proved expensive. SRH capitalised on the reprieves to post a massive total, eventually winning the match by 33 runs. Despite a brilliant unbeaten century from young Connolly, Punjab fell short in the chase.
Ponting’s honest and emotional reaction has sparked discussion among fans. While he showed sympathy for the players, his frustration also highlighted how poor fielding continues to hurt Punjab Kings at crucial moments this season.
This incident adds pressure on the side to improve their standards in the field quickly if they want to stay in contention for the playoffs. With several matches still left, Ponting will be hoping his team can turn things around and cut out these costly mistakes.
