Punjab Kings strike gold with young talent, says coach Ricky Ponting

Punjab Kings emerged as one of the standout franchises in the IPL 2025 auction held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, assembling a well-balanced squad under the leadership of new head coach Ricky Ponting. The team blended experienced Indian players, international stars, and promising young talent to build a formidable unit for the upcoming season.

The franchise secured some of the most accomplished Indian players, including Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Harpreet Brar, to anchor the squad. In addition, the team scouted and signed promising domestic talents such as Suryansh Shedge, Pyla Avinash, Musheer Khan, Harnoor Pannu, Pravin Dubey, and Priyansh Arya, focusing on long-term growth.

Ponting commended the franchise’s scouting team for their efforts in identifying future stars. “We have brought some of the best young Indian talent into our group, which is very exciting. Our scouts have done a great job and worked really hard to ensure the auctions went exactly as we planned,” Ponting stated in a release.

Punjab Kings also bolstered their squad with international players who bring a mix of experience and versatility. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, both familiar faces at Punjab, return to the team, while Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, and newcomers like Xavier Bartlett, Aaron Hardie, and Josh Inglis add depth to the roster.

Ponting explained the focus on Australian players, saying, “We have five Aussies among our eight overseas players, which might invite some criticism. But when you look at the slots we needed to fill, these players fit perfectly. Having Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell back is huge for us, and bringing in players like Hardie and Inglis, who are new to the IPL, is really exciting.”

Ponting highlighted the importance of all-rounders in creating a balanced team, mentioning players like Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, and Aaron Hardie. “World-class all-rounders provide stability and balance. It’s worked out really well for us, and I couldn’t be happier with the squad we’ve assembled,” he said.