‘It’s Become a Virus’: Ricky Ponting Furious After PBKS Fielding Collapse

PBKS dropped three catches against SRH at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, last night due to which PBKS lost the match by 33 runs. Due to the loss, PBKS have now slipped from their position at the top of the points table. Ricky Ponting, head coach for PBKS, was extremely disappointed because of the drop in a row. Even the reaction of one of the owners of Punjab, Preity Zinta, for dropping that catch went viral.

Two catches were dropped by Punjab Kings in the first innings. In the eighth over of the first innings, Ishan Kishan dropped by Cooper Connolly, and he scored a half-century after that. Meanwhile, Shashank Singh, who dropped three catches in the season-opening match against Lucknow Super Giants, dropped Heinrich Klaasen off Yuzvendra Chahal in the ninth over. He also scored a half-century. After the 10th over, the broadcaster called Ricky Ponting on camera for a conversation.

Preity Zinta be like seeing Cooper Connolly and Shashank Singh drop catches of Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen.

Terrible fielding by Punjab Kings in #IPL2026.#SRHvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/fQfvedlAb8

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— Atulya (@DesiMemesTweets) May 6, 2026

Ponting said, "To be honest, it's become a virus for us. We've dropped a lot of catches so far this season. The boys have worked so hard, and poor Shashank, it seems like opportunities are chasing him everywhere. Every high ball is going to him."

He further stated that he missed a few matches due to a left hamstring injury, so it took him about a week and a half to recover. He has worked very hard over the past week to get physically fit to play, and we have significantly increased our catching practice over the past five to six days.

Shortly after this, Punjab dropped a third catch, this time by Lockie Ferguson. Chahal once again created a chance, but the New Zealand pacer gave Ishan another life in the 11th over. Ponting was furious, but he controlled his reaction. After Ferguson's dropped catch, Ponting said, "I feel like throwing the microphone on the field."

A video clip of Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta is also going viral on social media. In it, she holds her head and breaks down in tears after the dropped catch. Although this video has been created with AI, it is making a lot of headlines on social media.