Ricky Ponting, the legendary Australian cricketer, has been appointed as the head coach of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ponting’s appointment marks a significant change for PBKS, who have struggled to find consistency in recent seasons.
Ponting’s coaching journey in the IPL began with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008. He later joined the Mumbai Indians, where he led the team to their first IPL title in 2013. In 2018, he took over as head coach of the Delhi Capitals, guiding them to three consecutive playoff appearances.
Ponting’s primary task at PBKS will be to identify players for retention ahead of the upcoming season. The team has not qualified for the playoffs since 2014 and finished ninth in the 2024 IPL season.
Ponting acknowledged the pressure of winning a trophy as a coach but welcomed it. He said, “That is the thing that makes coaching inviting to me. I like having that pressure. It is as close to getting back to playing as you can possibly get.”
Reflecting on his IPL journey, Ponting called coaching MI an “awesome experience” and described the DC changing room as a “special place” despite not winning a trophy. He noted that coaching in the IPL has evolved and is now more specific, with teams covering every aspect by appointing specialized coaches.
Key performers for Punjab last season included Harshal Patel, who won the Purple Cap for the second time, and the uncapped Indian players Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma. The squad also includes talents like left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, and leg-spinner Rahul Chahar. Notable overseas players in the team are England’s Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, and South African pacer Kagiso Rabada.
With Shikhar Dhawan’s recent retirement, identifying a new captain will also be a priority for Ponting and the team management.
