Rickey Ponting, who recently clarified that he will not take up the England white-ball coach role, is possibly looking to secure an IPL coaching contract once again. Ponting recently stepped down as the Delhi Capitals’ coach after his seven-year contract ended, and he subsequently went on to coach the Washington Freedom in the MLC, leading them to their first title.
With speculation swirling about his potential return to the IPL, the question remains whether he will join the league again. If so, which team might approach him? Let’s take a look at three teams that may hire Rickey Ponting as their head coach ahead of IPL 2025.
Kolkata Knight Riders
After Gautam Gambhir was selected to coach India, it seems unlikely that Ponting will get the role of head coach here. Chandrakant Pandit, the current coach who has done well for KKR, is one of the reasons why KKR showed consistency and won the IPL 2024. Although Pandit’s coaching style has faced scrutiny, Ponting could still be considered for a mentor role. It’s also worth noting that Ponting played for KKR in 10 games in 2008, scoring 91 runs at an average of 10.11. There is no doubt that his extensive experience could benefit KKR if he is brought in to fill Gambhir’s role.
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Punjab Kings
Trevor Bayliss, who was hired by PBKS in 2022, did not have the best performance with the team. In the 42 IPL games he coached, PBKS won 18 and lost 24. As a result, he is set to be released as coach, with the possibility that his contract may not be renewed. This means PBKS is likely to see changes, especially given their poor performance due to the lack of trust in a single captain, which led to a ninth-place finish. However, things could change if they are willing to make adjustments, and Ricky Ponting is certainly a strong option for PBKS if they are aiming for their first IPL title.
Rajasthan Royals
It is important to mention that the Rajasthan Royals currently do not have a head coach. Kumar Sangakkara, who has been serving as the Director of Cricket since 2021, will not continue in this role. Meanwhile, former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond and former Zimbabwean cricketer Trevor Penny are the assistant coaches.
Clearly, the franchise needs a head coach, as demonstrated by their loss of momentum in IPL 2024 after a strong start to the season. There are rumors that Rahul Dravid could be considered for the RR coaching role, but if that happens, Ricky Ponting’s extensive experience with leading major IPL teams gives him an edge over Dravid. The Rajasthan Royals are seeking their second trophy since their inaugural win in 2008, so it will be interesting to see how things goes.
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