Ricky Ponting Joins New IPL Franchise Ahead Of IPL 2025 (image-instagram/rickyponting)
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has been appointed as the head coach of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by replacing compatriot Trevor Bayliss in the underperforming IPL franchise. Ricky Ponting has made the switch to Punjab Kings from Delhi Capitals.
“Ponting signed the contract yesterday and it is for four years. He will need that much time to build the squad. Ponting will take a call on the rest of the support staff,” an IPL source told PTI.
Read also: IPL Retention Rules To Be Released On September 29
Ponting will be the sixth head coach in the last seven seasons. The franchise had made the playoffs only twice in the last seven seasons.
Expressing his delight at joining Punjab Kings said, “I am grateful to Punjab Kings for presenting me with the opportunity to be the new Head Coach. I am excited to take up the new challenge. I had great conversations with the owners and the management about the way forward and was truly elated to see the alignment of our visions for the team. We all want to repay the fans who have stayed with the franchise over the years and we promise that they will see a much different Punjab Kings going forward.”
Under Ponting, the Delhi Capitals reached their maiden IPL final in 2020 and overall reached the playoffs thrice in 2019 and 2021 too.
Punjab too has never won the IPL since the league inception in 2008 and the four co-owners will be hoping the World Cup-winning captain takes them all the way. The team’s sole presence came way back in 2014.
Punjab had failed to reach even the top five in the last seven editions and ended ninth out of 10 teams earlier this year.
Read also: AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey Receives Anonymous Threat Call
Punjab has had a strong core including Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran and Jonny Bairstow but the results have not come.
Meanwhile, Ponting has currently been commentating in the England versus Australia limited-overs series in the UK.
