IPL 2025: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has been appointed as the new head coach of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The news comes nearly three months after Ponting parted ways with the Delhi Capitals, ending a successful seven-year tenure with the franchise.
Ponting, who led Australia to three ODI World Cup titles as a player, expressed his excitement about taking on the new role. "I am grateful to Punjab Kings for presenting me with this opportunity," Ponting said. "I had great conversations with the owners and management, and we all share the same vision for the future of the franchise. We want to give our loyal fans the success they deserve, and I am excited to contribute to that effort."
Ponting will be Punjab's sixth head coach in seven seasons, as the team continues its search for stability and success. The franchise has only made the playoffs twice in IPL history, with their last appearance being more than a decade ago. In the 2024 season, Punjab finished ninth in the table, further emphasizing the need for a strong rebuilding phase under Ponting's leadership.
One of Ponting's biggest tasks ahead of the 2025 season will be navigating the upcoming IPL mega auction. His responsibility includes identifying key players for retention and potentially choosing a new team captain, following Shikhar Dhawan's retirement from international cricket. Punjab has several standout performers in their ranks, including two-time Purple Cap winner Harshal Patel, uncapped power-hitters Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, and Arshdeep Singh, India's T20 World Cup-winning pacer. The team also has a solid core of overseas stars, including England's Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Johnny Bairstow, and South African speedster Kagiso Rabada.
Ponting's IPL history adds to his credibility as a coach. Although he played in only two IPL seasons, his impact has been significant. In 2008, he played for Kolkata Knight Riders, and in 2013, he captained Mumbai Indians before stepping down mid-season, allowing Rohit Sharma to take over and eventually lead MI to multiple titles. After retiring from playing, Ponting became an advisory figure at Mumbai Indians in 2014 and later served as the team's head coach in 2015 and 2016.
In 2018, Ponting took over as head coach of Delhi Capitals, where he helped the team reach three consecutive playoff appearances between 2019 and 2021, including a runner-up finish in 2020. Despite Delhi's recent struggles, which saw them miss the top four in the last three seasons, Ponting’s coaching tenure was widely regarded as transformative for the franchise.
As Punjab Kings look to reverse their fortunes, the appointment of Ponting signals a bold step towards building a competitive team capable of challenging for the IPL title. With the mega auction approaching and crucial decisions to be made, Ponting’s leadership will be vital in shaping the future of the team. Fans and management alike will be hoping that his experience and vision can lead PBKS to the playoff stage and beyond.
