IPL 2025: Ricky Ponting-Punjab Kings deal done; legend to join as..

Legendary Australia captain Ricky Ponting is set for a new role in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). Ponting has been appointed as the new head coach of Punjab Kings..

Ponting was the head coach of Delhi Capitals till last season. But he was sacked from the role just a few months ago with Delhi Capitals management possibly looking for an Indian coach.

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IPL 2025: Ricky Ponting joins Punjab Kings as head coach

Ricky Ponting has a good amount of experience of working in the IPL coaching staff. He can be a great addition to the Punjab Kings management which is still searching for their first-ever IPL title.

Ponting has signed a multi-year deal with Punjab Kings. It is also believed that he will have the power to choose his coaching staff. Ponting will be the sixth head coach of Punjab Kings in the last seven IPL seasons.

Punjab finished ninth in IPL 2024 season. Ponting's first job will be to shortlist the players for the retention before the IPL 2025 mega auction. The retention rules are yet to be finalized. With Shikhar Dhawan retired, Ponting will also be looking for a new captain of the franchise.

While Ponting has been appointed the head coach, it is yet not clear about the roles of the other coaching staff which includes Trevor Bayliss (head coach), Sanjay Bangar (head of cricket development), Charl Langveldt (fast-bowling coach), Sunil Joshi (spin-bowling coach).

Ricky Ponting in IPL

Ponting's association with the IPL dates back to 2008 when he joined Kolkata Knight Riders as a player. Afterwards, he joined Mumbai Indians and was appointed the captain before stepping down midway due to poor performances with the bat.

In the same year when Ponting left the captaincy of Mumbai Indians, the team went on to clinch their first IPL trophy under Rohit Sharma. It started a golden era for Mumbai Indians.

Punjab has been among the worst-performing IPL teams. They reached the semi-final stage in the inaugural season but have since gone downhill.

They have only made it to the IPL playoffs just twice in the history, in 2008 and 2014. It's been 10 years since they have made it to the playoffs.

Ricky Ponting's tenure with Delhi Capitals

Ricky Ponting has served as the head coach for Delhi Capitals for a period of seven IPL seasons. Under the coaching of Ponting, Delhi Capitals reached the IPL playoffs in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

In 2020, Delhi reached the IPL final for the first time ever but lost to Mumbai Indians in the summit clash. It remains Delhi's best performances till date.

Ponting joined Delhi Capitals in 2018 before parting ways after IPL 2024. after the franchise management claimed that they want a coach who could be available for them at any point of time. Since Ponting lives in Australia, it wasn't possible for him to do that.

The last three seasons have been under-par for the Capitals where they failed to reach the playoffs stage.