Ricky Ponting: Punjab Kings Secures Top Young Indian Talent
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Nov 28 (NationPress) The IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah showcased numerous uncapped Indian talents who secured lucrative contracts after showcasing stellar performances in their state-level T20 leagues. Among the franchises, Punjab Kings made significant investments in emerging players, including opener Priyansh Arya, who was acquired for INR 3.8 crore. Arya made a remarkable impact in the Delhi Premier League (DPL), scoring 608 runs in just 10 innings with an astonishing strike rate of 198.69, and he gained attention for hitting six sixes in a single over while achieving a breathtaking century.
The franchise also recruited promising talents like Harnoor Pannu, a member of India’s 2022 U19 World Cup-winning team, who scored 578 runs in 12 matches and hit 33 sixes during the Sher-e-Punjab T20 tournament. Other notable young players like Musheer Khan, who excelled at the U19 World Cup, Ranji Trophy, and Duleep Trophy, along with Suryansh Shedge, Pyla Avinash, and Pravin Dubey, also caught the eye of Punjab's scouting team.
Head coach Ricky Ponting expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We have assembled some of the best young Indian talent into our squad, which is truly exciting. Our scouts have worked diligently to ensure the auctions unfolded just as we envisioned."
Punjab Kings also acquired five Australian players: Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, and Xavier Bartlett, creating an interesting mix. "Having a few Australians might attract some criticism, but the players we've selected fit perfectly into the roles we required," Ponting noted.
"Bringing back Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell to Kings is significant since both have previously played here. New additions like Xavier Bartlett, Aaron Hardie, and Josh Inglis are also exciting as they step into the IPL for the first time," he added.
Ponting emphasized the importance of acquiring quality all-rounders like Hardie, Marco Jansen, and Azmatullah Omarzai to enhance the team’s balance and stability. "We have numerous world-class all-rounders, which has worked out exceptionally well," he remarked.
"I couldn’t be happier. While every team will feel satisfied with their auctions, the overall sentiment among our table and many Punjab fans is that they are thrilled with our performance thus far," he reflected.
Ponting shared his satisfaction regarding the auction's outcome, stating, "Extremely happy with the auction. We had an excellent first day, securing some of our high-profile and most expensive players, but we recognized that day two was even more crucial."
"We had additional slots to fill, including some pivotal ones. Initially, we anticipated that, given our spending, we might acquire 20 or 21 players. However, we ended up securing a complete roster, including eight overseas players.
Ponting concluded by affirming his readiness for the upcoming season, declaring, "I am prepared for the season now. The hard work is complete regarding the auctions. With the players on board, it’s up to me and the coaching staff to ensure we are ready to compete for the IPL title come March."
Punjab Kings squad: Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Pyla Avinash, and Pravin Dubey.
