Ricky Ponting named head coach of Punjab Kings for IPL 2025
PTC News Desk: Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has been appointed as the head coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This development comes three months after Ponting ended his seven-year tenure with Delhi Capitals. The appointment marks a pivotal moment for Punjab Kings as they prepare for the upcoming mega auction.
Sharing his enthusiasm for the new role, Ponting expressed gratitude to the franchise, stating, "I am honored to join Punjab Kings as the new Head Coach. I’m excited to take on this new challenge. My discussions with the owners and management revealed a shared vision for the team's future, and we are committed to rewarding the fans who have stood by us with a much-improved Punjab Kings in the coming seasons."
Ponting’s appointment makes him the sixth head coach of PBKS in the past seven seasons, underscoring the franchise's frequent changes in leadership. The team has struggled in recent years, making the playoffs only twice in IPL history, with their last appearance being over a decade ago. PBKS finished ninth in the 2024 season.
One of Ponting's key responsibilities will be guiding the team through the mega auction, where he will play a crucial role in selecting players to retain and building a competitive squad. Additionally, he will need to identify a new team captain, as Shikhar Dhawan, the current skipper, announced his international retirement earlier this year.
PBKS boasts some promising players, including Purple Cap winner Harshal Patel, power-hitters Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, T20 World Cup-winning pacer Arshdeep Singh, and wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, who briefly captained the side last season. The team also has a strong overseas lineup, featuring players like Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Johnny Bairstow, and Kagiso Rabada.
Ricky Ponting's IPL history is notable. A three-time ODI World Cup winner, Ponting played in the IPL twice—first with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008 and later with Mumbai Indians in 2013. He stepped down from MI's captaincy midway through the 2013 season, paving the way for Rohit Sharma's leadership. After retiring from all formats that same year, Ponting continued with MI in an advisory role, later becoming head coach in 2015 and 2016.
In 2018, he was appointed head coach of Delhi Capitals, leading them to three consecutive playoff appearances between 2019 and 2021, including a runner-up finish in 2020. However, after Delhi failed to make the playoffs in the last three seasons, Ponting parted ways with the team in July 2024.
Ponting's appointment at Punjab Kings signals the team's ambition to turn its fortunes around under the guidance of one of the sport's most experienced leaders.
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- With inputs from agencies
