New Chandigarh, April 14 (NationPress) The Punjab Kings (PBKS) fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is anticipated to be sidelined for the remainder of IPL 2025, as stated by bowling coach James Hopes prior to their matchup against the reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Ferguson exited the field due to a left leg injury after delivering just two balls in his team’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, a game they ultimately lost by eight wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

“Ferguson's out indefinitely, and the chances of us getting him back before the tournament concludes are very slim. I believe he has sustained a significant injury,” stated Hopes during the pre-match press briefing.

Previously, Ferguson was unable to participate in the 2025 Champions Trophy for New Zealand due to a hamstring injury he suffered while competing in the ILT20 in the UAE. Other fast-bowling alternatives for PBKS include seamer Xavier Bartlett and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.

From an Indian perspective, they have Vijaykumar Vyshak, who made an impact in PBKS’s opening game of the season, leading them to victory over Gujarat Titans (GT). In the game against SRH, Yash Thakur was employed, and they also have Kuldeep Sen in their lineup.

The upcoming match against KKR is pivotal for PBKS as they aim to secure those crucial two points after winning three matches but losing two. “We’ve only played a few games here, and we feel we’re getting a solid understanding of the conditions through some practice matches and our last two games. We will need to adjust our team a bit with Ferguson unavailable,” noted Hopes.

“We'll assess the pitch tonight and determine our approach. Whether we need to modify our spin attack or fast bowling lineup, that’s a decision we’ll have to make,” added Hopes, who has previously served as the bowling coach for Delhi Capitals (DC).

He concluded by emphasizing the need for the PBKS bowling unit to adapt their strategies based on the conditions at various venues. “Looking ahead, we expect to see some improvement in our bowling. However, I’m not going to claim that we will go five matches without conceding less than 200 runs.”

“We’ll play on pitches like Bangalore, which could be conducive to scores of 230, and we need to aim to keep the opposing team under 200. Our focus has to be on bowling to the conditions that will secure us a win that day. In the last game, we fell short in that regard, and coupled with dropped catches and an injury, it led to a defeat.”