IPL 2025: Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting hints at targeting Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer at auction

Ricky Ponting has joined PBKS ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction after leaving Delhi Capitals.

The new Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach, Ricky Ponting, seemed to have earmarked Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, as well as KL Rahul, to go after in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction as PBKS will be on the hunt of a new skipper for the next season.

Ponting joined PBKS after his seven-year association with Delhi Capitals (DC) ended following the IPL 2024 season.

Ponting’s first move at PBKS is a major revamp: PBKS retained only two players – Shashank Singh (INR 5.5 crores), and Prabhsimran Singh (INR 4 crores) – and let go of the rest ahead of the mega auction, where PBKS will go with the largest purse of INR 110.5 crores.

PBKS’ first-choice captain last season Shikhar Dhawan has retired and their interim skipper Sam Curran has been released. So, the franchise will be on the lookout for a new skipper in the upcoming mega auction.

Ponting was surprised by the releases of Pant and Iyer

Three Indian captains – Iyer, Pant, and Rahul – have been released by their respective franchises. Pant had a long-term association with Delhi since 2016, while Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title earlier this year.

Ponting has worked with both of them at Delhi and could rope in one of them to lead Punjab next year.

Speaking on the ICC Review, Ponting said, “There are a lot of exciting players available. I was a bit surprised by some of the non-Indian retentions, with Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant up for auction, even KL Rahul to some extent. It seems certain franchises are aiming for a change in direction.”

“You need to pinpoint your primary target and decide how much you’re willing to spend. Getting the auction strategy right is crucial, and then we, as the coaching team, can take it forward.“

Since Punjab have retained two players, they will have four RTM cards available to utilise at the mega auction to buy back their players.

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