The duo get the chance to go one better this year against Royal Challengers Bangalore, with Iyer’s match-winning innings of 87* from just 41 deliveries against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday helping the Kings earn their place in the final in what is Ponting’s first year as coach of the franchise.
Iyer scored 243 runs from five innings at India’s successful Champions Trophy earlier this year and has tallied 603 runs for the Kings from 16 innings at the IPL this year to be sixth overall on the leading run-scorer charts.
“I enjoy playing a bit of a role with him as we work really well together,” Ponting said.
“We talk a lot together about the game and tactics and, I think he said last night that he said ‘that I leave it to Ricky…