Ricky Ponting, the Aussie legend with four World titles, two World Cups, and two Champions Trophies, makes a return to the IPL as he has been appointed as PBKS head coach.
Ponting, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, has signed a multi-year contract with the IPL franchise Punjab Kings.
They have also reported that the fate of the remaining coaching staff with the likes of Trevor Bayliss, Sanjay Bangar, Sunil Joshi, and Charl Langerveldt depends on calls taken by the new head coach, Ricky Ponting.
Ricky Ponting has had immense experience in the IPL, with his campaign beginning in the inaugural season with KKR. Later, he returned as a player in 2013 for the Mumbai Indians, after he took retirement from international cricket.
Ponting emerged first in the coaching role, as he turned batting coach for the Mumbai Indians in 2014 and was seen with them till 2016.
It was after a year that the Delhi Capitals acquired him from 2018 onwards. With the 7 editions for the Delhi Capitals, he remained a mentor and led them to multiple playoffs and a final in 2020.
Ponting, after stepping down as Capitals coach, was seen as the head coach of the Washington Freedom in the MLC. Working alongside his countrymen, Head, Steven Smith, the skipper, and Glenn Maxwell, Ponting led Freedom to their first MLC title.
Ricky Ponting has a lot to do for the Punjab Kings before the IPL mega-auction
The Punjab Kings have been one of the weakest among teams in the history of the IPL. They have not made to a single playoff since their last appearance in the IPL playoffs and also the finals of the 2014 edition, where they lost to KKR.
Ponting has been assigned this huge role of breaking their playoff drought of 10 years, and after the retirement of legendary batter Shikhar Dhawan, this has turned even more vital for the franchise.
With the likes of fine bowlers in Kagiso Rabada and last season’s purple cap holder, Harshal Patel, PBKS have some unique talent in young Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Singh, who can bear immense talent under Ponting.
Also, Ponting decides the future of English greats, as Sam Curran remains the overhyped and overpaid and is likely to be replaced in the side.
Recently, English all-rounder Liam Livingstone emerged as the No. 1 T20I all-rounder by the ICC after his superb efforts against Australia in the series; even his future remains uncertain, as Ponting would look to rebuild the squad in order to turn the tables this time around.
