Ponting appointed Punjab Kings coach in IPL

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has been appointed caput coach of Punjab Kings aft leaving chap Indian Premier League broadside Delhi Capitals.

The 49-year-old, 1 of nan top batters of each time, near Delhi aft a sixth-placed decorativeness successful nan 2024 IPL, ending a seven-year spell pinch nan franchise.

Ponting was linked pinch replacing Matthew Mott arsenic England's white-ball coach but ruled himself retired of nan running, external, citing nan clip commitments an world domiciled requires.

Brendon McCullum has since been appointed to nan England role, which he will harvester pinch his duties arsenic Test coach.

Ponting, who played 560 times for Australia betwixt 1995 and 2012 and now useful arsenic a tv pundit, is besides caput coach of Major League Cricket franchise Washington Freedom. Washington won nan MLC earlier this twelvemonth successful Ponting's first play successful charge.

At Delhi, he reached nan play-off stages 3 times arsenic caput coach but grounded to do truthful successful immoderate of nan past 3 season.

Punjab person been led by erstwhile England coach Trevor Bayliss successful nan past 2 seasons and vanished ninth retired of 10 franchises this year.

No reference to Bayliss' early was made successful nan announcement of Ponting's appointment.

England players Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes and Jonny Bairstow were portion of Punjab this year, though location is simply a 'mega auction' earlier nan 2025 play that gives franchises a greater opportunity to refresh their squads.

Punjab main executive Satish Menon said: "We are delighted to person Ricky to guideline and build our squad for nan adjacent 4 seasons.

"His insights from his world coaching stints and arsenic a tv pundit would beryllium captious successful identifying talent up of nan mega auction this year."