The Punjab Kings (PBKS), hoping to make a return this season, will enter the championship with a fresh team that includes several stars. The team’s shortcomings from the previous season are discussed by current PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting, along with their plans to improve moving ahead in the competition.
With just five victories in their 14 games, the PBKS squad finished eighth in the previous season. Shreyas Iyer, who was acquired by the team for 26.75 crores, is the new captain in addition to the squad’s new core. Coach Ponting stated that the team’s dismal home record is one of the reasons they haven’t been able to take home any trophies from the event. He also mentioned that practice matches and training camps will be held at the location to ensure the players are ready for the conditions. He also discussed how this might be used to select the ideal playing XI.
“We lost home games last year, so the team wants to better understand home conditions through practice games and training camps, concentrating on making new memories and winning home games,” Ponting stated during a news conference.
It will be difficult to select the starting eleven because of our great players. We can make a decision with the aid of two practice games. To ensure that everyone puts in a lot of effort, we want competition for spots,” the former Australian cricket player continued.
I requested a significant adjustment upon my appointment: Ricky Ponting
Ponting also demonstrated trust in the lineup he selected for this season, which includes Iyer as well as top India leg spinners Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal. Ponting has explained why he selected these three players for the team, despite the fact that they were among the priciest players available at the auction.
As soon as I was named head coach, I desired a significant overhaul. In order to reconstruct the squad from the ground up, we concentrated on acquiring important players like Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep, and Yuzi Chahal through the auction process,” Ponting replied.