Ricky Ponting Appointed As Punjab Kings Head Coach For IPL 2025

Ricky Ponting has been appointed as the head coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS) starting from IPL 2025, just over two months after parting ways with Delhi Capitals, where he served for seven years.

Ponting has signed a multi-year contract with PBKS, marking his return to a prominent coaching role in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Ponting’s Role at Punjab Kings

As per ESPNcricinfo, Ponting will have significant authority at PBKS, including the final say on assembling the coaching staff.

It remains unclear whether any members of the 2024 coaching unit, including Trevor Bayliss (head coach), Sanjay Bangar (head of cricket development), Charl Langeveldt (fast-bowling coach), and Sunil Joshi (spin-bowling coach), will continue in their roles under Ponting’s leadership.

Ponting will be PBKS’s third head coach in four seasons, underscoring the franchise’s search for stability. His immediate challenge will be to identify key players for retention as IPL 2025 approaches, with teams awaiting the league’s final retention rules.

Rebuilding the Kings

Punjab Kings, who finished ninth in IPL 2024, have not qualified for the playoffs since their runner-up finish in 2014. Ponting’s vast experience in the IPL, both as a player and coach, will be pivotal as the franchise aims to break its playoff drought.

Key performers from the previous season include purple cap winner Harshal Patel, uncapped talents Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, and established players such as Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Rahul Chahar. PBKS also boasts an impressive overseas lineup featuring Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, and Kagiso Rabada.

With Shikhar Dhawan recently announcing his retirement, one of Ponting’s first tasks will be identifying a new captain to lead the squad.

Ponting’s IPL Journey

Ponting’s IPL journey began in 2008 as a player for Kolkata Knight Riders. He later captained Mumbai Indians, stepping down mid-season in 2013 to make way for Rohit Sharma, who led the team to their first title. Ponting transitioned to an advisory role in 2014 and took over as head coach for Mumbai in 2015-2016.

In 2018, he joined Delhi Capitals as head coach, guiding them to three consecutive playoff appearances between 2019 and 2021, including their first-ever final in 2020. After parting ways with Delhi in July 2024, Ponting led Washington Freedom to the Major League Cricket title.

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