Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting hints at ‘big changes’ ahead of IPL

Punjab Kings’ head coach Ricky Ponting promised ‘big changes’ ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) as the former Aussie skipper comes into the new role as coach of the side, which is yet to win a title. The two-time Australian World Cup-winning captain shared his vision for the team, while reflecting back on his strategy for the league.

“It’s going to be really different this year with the way that we are perceived, the way we present ourselves, the way that we train, the way that we play and the way that we are led. Everything is going to be different from the previous years,” said Pointing. Straight from the players’ auction, the management had spent a whopping Rs 119.65 crore to form an entire new squad for the upcoming season. The team will be led by the IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, in addition to Indian players like spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, pacer Arshdeep Singh and many others.

Ponting further revealed that his vision was to bring in the right combination of Indian talent, which influenced his decision to acquire star players like Iyer, Arshdeep and Chahal. “There were three players that I wanted in the squad. Arshdeep is there with the squad for a couple of years now. I also wanted to bring in a captain who I have worked with before and who has had a lot of success..., so Shreyas was the perfect choice. I also wanted to bring in Yuzi,” said Ponting.

He further added, “And then, we had to make a few tweaks as the auction went on to make sure we ended up with a really good squad. I am trying to make things different and rebuild and have the right people around me. But these three were non-negotiables.”

The management’s decision to retain uncapped Indian players Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh further highlights their continued faith and push for the young Indian players. “It’s not so much about the overseas guys. The overseas guys create a lot of hype. But as far as I am concerned, I needed to bring the right Indian players back into the tent,” Ponting said.