As the IPL 2025 is set to recommence on 17th May, Punjab Kings (PBKS) find themselves in a state of anticipation with three overseas players confirming their participation, while a few others remain uncertain. Among those confirmed are Xavier Bartlett, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mitchell Owen, who will return to India to join their side.
However, the statuses of Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, and Aaron Hardie hang in the balance. Both Jansen, representing South Africa, and Inglis, part of Australia’s team, have commitments with their national squads for the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s starting 11th June.
While the players headed home during the interruption, the majority of PBKS’s overseas coaching staff stayed behind. Head coach Ricky Ponting, along with assistants Brad Haddin and James Hopes, continue to lead preparations. PBKS expects all players and staff to regroup within the next two days to resume training on Thursday in Jaipur. This will serve as their base for upcoming matches against Rajasthan Royals (18th May), Delhi Capitals (24th May), and Mumbai Indians (26th May).
Currently third on the points table with 15 points from 11 games, PBKS was interrupted during their 12th match against Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala on 8th May due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The IPL took a temporary pause on 9th May, resuming only after a ceasefire was agreed on 10th May. The revised schedule was released with a total of 13 league matches and four playoffs still to be played. Matches will take place in Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, though playoff venues are yet to be disclosed. The playoff dates are: Qualifier 1 on 29th May, Eliminator on 30th May, Qualifier 2 on 1st June with the final on 3rd June.
Nagraj Gollapudi, the news editor at ESPNcricinfo, brings these developments to light as the league gears up for an exciting completion.
