‘Saw It as a Challenge’: Ricky Ponting Reveals What Attracted Him to Join PBKS Ahead of IPL 2025

The Punjab Kings made a huge splash after they brought in Ricky Ponting as the new head coach of the franchise. The PBKS made it official on Wednesday amid the anticipation, and the former Australian skipper will take charge from the IPL 2025 season and further beyond. Given Ponting's stature, it is obvious that multiple teams were lined up to bring him in. But in an eye-attracting move, Ponting chose to join Punjab .

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Ricky Ponting Reveals Why He Chose the Punjab Kings Over Other IPL Franchises

Ricky Ponting revealed that he was in conversation with a few IPL franchises, but he eventually made up his mind to join the Punjab Kings due to 'Project Punjab ' and the challenges to elevate the team, which used to be an IPL finalist.

"Yes, I was talking to a few teams, but it was "Project Punjab ," which attracted me. It is a team that hasn't had a lot of success over a long period of time, a team that's changed coaches a lot, so I saw it as a challenge. The other exciting part is that I saw some really exciting youngsters last year at Kings' that hopefully we can attract back to the team for this season and put together a team that is going to be good enough to win the IPL .

"I mean, there's no doubting over the years that the Kings have had good players, have had good teams. They just haven't been able to win it yet. I have a longish-term deal there, and hopefully, during that period of time we can win the IPL ," Ricky Ponting said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

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Not just the Punjab Kings , but other franchises have also been making major splashes in terms of coaching staff. Given the IPL 2025 season is set to be a huge affair, all teams are gearing up and bolstering their side in order to prepare a formidable team. The Rajasthan Royals are another side who have made a major splash after they brought in the T20 World Cup -winning coach, Rahul Dravid. RR did not end there, as they brought in former Team India batting coach Vikram Rathour in the side and he will be re-uniting with Dravid. The anticipation enhances with such moves and the Indian Premier League franchises will leave no stone unturned to fill their roster with legendary faces and stars.