The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 It continues to deliver high-octane drama and between 29. match Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Mullanpur International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh was no exception. The atmosphere was electric on Sunday evening as the two mid-table teams battled for vital points. However, the highlight of the night wasn’t just the explosive batting or the yorkers getting hot; It was a moment of inexplicable field inertia that left the legend Ricky Ponting fumes in the shelter.
Ricky Ponting reacts in disbelief to Shashank Singh’s sloppy performance in PBKS vs LSG
The tension reached a boiling point during the death tolls of the first innings. In 18, LSG tries to maximize their total number, Arshdeep Singh wide, delivered a full length ball to the well Aiden Markram. Markram sliced the ball towards the deep point area. Shashank SinghPreviously struggling with a dropped catch on the throw, he was struggling with a significant crisis of confidence while tracking the ball.
In what can only be described as a moment of brain drain, Shashank completely misjudged the trajectory. Instead of sprinting or diving to stop the overswing, he slowed down, making sure the ball floated comfortably over the strings. To the dismay of the PBKS fans and coaching staff, the ball landed straight on the boundary pad, which was within Shashank’s physical capabilities if he had made a real effort.
Arshdeep looked annoyed, throwing his arms up in frustration as the umpire gave six. But the real story was in the PBKS shelter. The cameras immediately panned to head coach Ponting, whose face was a mask of pure disappointment. Ponting is a man who has redefined fielding standards throughout his long career Australiawas seen shaking his head in disbelief at the lack of intent shown on the border line. For a strategist who preached 100% effort, it was a bitter pill to swallow to see the potential wicket being maxed out due to lack of follow through.
We present the video:
Wow! What happened there? 👀
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PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer consoles Shashank after the match
Cricket is a game of intense emotions, but the Punjab Kings camp was quick to switch from disappointment to damage control after the last ball was bowled. Despite the mid-game tension, the post-match scenes showed strong team camaraderie.
In a heartening display of leadership, PBKS Capt Shreyas Iyer, fondly called ‘Sarpanch’ by his fans for his community-oriented leadership style, a dejected Shashank was seen approaching. Aware that the fielder was his harshest critic at the time, Iyer jokingly used his hands to hide Shashank’s face as he walked past the coaching staff, playfully shielding him from another potentially harsh look from Ponting.
Even Ponting cooled off after the adrenaline of the match wore off. The legendary Tasmanian was seen hugging Shashank during the post-match handshake, offering words of encouragement instead of a lecture. While Ponting knows better than anyone that catches have been adjusted to international standards, the focus has shifted to keeping the player’s morale high for the rest of the season. In the high pressure pot of IPL 2026, PBKS proved that while mistakes on the field can be costly, the bond in the dressing room remains their biggest asset.
