“Project Punjab really caught my attention…”Ricky Ponting reveals a major reason behind becoming head Coach of Punjab kings

On Wednesday, September 18, Ricky Ponting, the former captain of the Australian cricket team, was named the head coach of the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ponting, who holds the record for the most runs scored by an Australian in both Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs), had previously worked with the Delhi Capitals. He signed a four-year contract with the Mohali-based team.

Before taking up the role with the Punjab Kings, Ponting was the head coach of the Delhi Capitals for seven years, from 2018 to 2024. However, he was let go from that position in July 2024. After leaving the Delhi Capitals, Ponting expressed his interest in coaching in the IPL again, and the Punjab Kings, who were also looking for a new head coach, hired him.

Ponting, who was the head coach when Mumbai Indians won the IPL in 2015, said he was also talking to other teams about coaching jobs. But he was most interested in ‘Project Punjab’ and decided to join Preity Zinta’s team.

“Yes, I was talking to a few teams, but ‘Project Punjab’ really caught my attention. It’s a team that hasn’t done well for a long time and has had many different coaches, so I saw it as a big challenge. Another exciting thing is that I saw some talented young players last year at Kings’ who I hope we can bring back to the team this season. I want to build a strong team that can win the IPL,” Ponting said, according to ESPNcricinfo.

“I mean, there’s no question that the Kings have had great players and strong teams over the years. The only thing missing is a championship win. I have a long-term contract with them, and hopefully, during that time, we can finally win the IPL,” he added.

Punjab Kings is one of three teams in the IPL that has competed in all 17 seasons but has never won the IPL title. In fact, they haven’t made it to the playoffs in the world’s richest cricket league since 2014.

In the 2024 season of the IPL, PBKS finished 9th in the standings after winning only five out of 14 matches.