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Follow UsOn September 18 (Wednesday), Punjab Kings announced that the 49-year-old Australian Ricky Ponting will replace fellow Australian Trevor Bayliss as their new head coach for the upcoming season.
One thing that Ponting’s tenure at Delhi Capitals resulted in was a large number of Australian cricketers in the squad. This was seen during the 2024 edition of the Major League Cricket (MLC), Washington Freedom, where he said as many as four Australian cricketers.
If the trend has to follow, these are the Australian players that Ponting could target for Punjab Kings at the 2025 IPL Auction.
Ponting’s connection with the Hobart Hurricanes is quite strong, and hence, Tim David could very well be targeted by the Punjab Kings. David could fit into the Kings’ system like a glove, with his ability to clear the fence with ease.
"If I was a selector, I would love to have someone like that [David] in my team. He's the sort of player that could actually win you a World Cup," Ponting had praised David endlessly.
While David’s numbers might be nosediving, you can be rest assured that someone like Ponting would be eyeing to resurrect his career.
While it might come in as unlikely news, there’s still a slim chance that SRH might retain Pat Cummins and Heinrich Klaasen ahead of Travis Head. That essentially gives the Kings an outside chance of snapping the all-rounder.
Also Read: Travis Head’s 2024: the best ever by an Aussie & among the greatest in T20I history
Head has dominated 2024 like no one else has, and that could be enough for PBKS to go hard for the all-rounder. Consider this as well - it could even be a realistic possibility that PBKS could afford Head, considering how much money they would save out of retaining very few players.
Whaattt? It is an all-time low even for Punjab Kings, you might wonder. But here’s the catch. The right-hander amassed 336 runs in just nine appearances for the Washington Freedom while scoring at a strike rate of 148.67.
Prior to that, Smith also had a stellar 2022/23 season, during which he scored 346 runs with a strike rate of 174.74. Given his great captaincy options, Punjab Kings might definitely be interested in getting him on board.
There’s a really good chance that RCB might let go of Glenn Maxwell, their favourite overseas child after AB de Villiers in recent years. Maxwell hasn’t been in the best of form, with 52 runs, averaging just 5.77!!!
He might have played for Punjab Kings before, but he could be a force if he reunites with Ponting, whom he coached at the Freedom setup.
Punjab Kings and swashbuckling all-rounders? That’s a perfect match. That’s where Nikhil Chaudhary could come in handy for the Kings. The 28-year-old showed his prowess in his maiden Big Bash League season, where he struck at 142.59.
Add in the Punjab factor, indeed a homecoming could be around the corner for Nikhil, considering both the franchise and the Ponting factor.
The windmill - that’s what people in Australia call the left-arm wrist spinner Patrick Dooley.
Over the last two years, he’s absolutely mesmerized every batter in the competition with his quirky action that has mimicked the Indian pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. The 27-year-old could be an X-factor option for Punjab Kings.
The left-arm spinner has already picked up 25 wickets, averaging 21.60, including a four-wicket haul. Given how much Ponting rates him, don’t be surprised if PBKS might pick Dooley.
Shocking, right? Delhi Capitals might not retain the Australian captain. That’s where Punjab Kings might swoop in and take away the all-rounder from beneath everyone’s noses at the IPL Auction.
“Talking about (captaincy) he's [Marsh] a rookie, but captaincy sits well with him," Ponting told ICC. That’s where Punjab could benefit from having Marsh as a captain as well. They have to build a future, and it could start with getting the Australian captain on board.
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