PBKS Coach Sends This Bold Message To Franchise Owner Ahead Of IPL 2025

One of the inconsistent teams in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is Punjab Kings (PBKS). They reached the finals of the event during the 2014 season when they finished as the runners-up of the tournament, losing the final to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

PBKS finished the previous season of the competition at the penultimate position among the ten franchises, thanks to five victories in 14 encounters at a net run rate of -0.353. The season before that in 2023m the franchise ended at the eighth rank, shouldering on six wins.

Punjab Kings’ new inclusion

Just a few weeks ago, PBKS announced India’s middle-order batter and winning captain of the last edition, Shreyas Iyer, as their new leader of the upcoming season. They grabbed his services in the mega auction for a price of INR 26.75 crore. That made him the second most expensive player in the IPL history.

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Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, was part of the Delhi Capitals’ set-up as the head coach. But his journey ended with the side after nearly eight years, as the veteran shook hands with the 2014 runners-up of the event.

Ricky Ponting sends a bold message to Preity Zinta

During a recent podcast on The Howie Game, Ponting expressed that he already had conversations with the owners of the team. He also felt that the owners would need to accept that the coach would be the boss of the franchise.

“Conversations had been going on. We had a really good auction, and it went well. I am happy with what we have done there, but from this point of the moment, although they are the owners of the team, it’s my team, and they have to accept that this is the way we are going with things.” Ricky Ponting addressed.

“It’s the same way that we have got four major owners for Punjab, all of whom are successful people. And they are passionate about the team, and they want success.” PBKS’ head coach expressed.

PBKS coach orders this to franchise owners

The Tasmanian was very delighted with their auction and the choice of players they made. He highlighted that the owners had been passionate about the franchise because they got the reward in the last 14 to 15 years.

“I think the fact that they haven’t had the success in 14 or 15 years is probably pushing them harder and harder to want it, and so you know, that makes them more passionate and make them ask more questions about why I did this and that or what way you go for this player in the auction. But so far, it’s good.” The former World Cup winner shed light.

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The 50-year-old stated that it would be important for them to be crystal clear with the messages to the players. He reckoned that all the advice of the owners to the players would be through him.

“I don’t mind owners having conversations with me about what they want, but I have an issue when it starts going directly to players. If I am giving one message and other messages are getting to the player, then that’s where we end up with issues. They know the line of communication to the players will be through me.” The PBKS coach concluded.

PBKS will be really happy with some of the players’ inclusion. Yuzvendra Chahal will be a key figure for them with the ball in the middle overs, while Marco Jansen and Marcus Stoinis are expected to provide the all-rounders’ contribution.