3 areas where PBKS' IPL 2025 squad is better than 2024
The cycle doesn't change for the Punjab Kings (PBKS): they promise a fresh start for a season, overhaul either the entire team or some key players, make coaching shuffles but then see a middling performance with a few positives and repeat the entire process again.
Two issues stand out always: an unbalanced squad and a lack of backing for the players+staff for a longer term. In IPL 2025, the new management under Ricky Ponting has tried to fix the first issue for their new squad looks much better balanced on paper.
It still has some issues -- like death bowling -- but Ponting would know that to break the 10-year-long streak of out-of-playoffs finishes, he needs to focus on the positives. Below, we discuss three aspects where the PBKS' IPL 2025 squad is better than 2024.
#3 Spin improvement
PBKS were found lacking in the spin department last season. They took only 20 wickets, comprising 10 from their lead leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and seven from left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar.
Their new lead leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, outbowled the duo with his 18 wickets in 15 innings at an average of just over 30. In IPL 2025, PBKS would be a more agressive spin team.
Chahal was much better in the first half, bowling at a quick pace and being extremely tight. He gave that up in the second half and cut short his trajectory towards the top-three wickets leaderboard.
PBKS would expect Ponting to bring out the better version of him. He'd be helped by having the frugal Brar at the other end and the renowned spin coach Sunil Joshi; plus, with a point to prove and an India comeback to chase, some fire in his belly would also work in the franchise's favor.
#2 Clear captaincy choice
PBKS broke the bank for Shreyas Iyer, beating a tough fight from the Delhi Capitals, to make him the second-highest paid player in the league. But now, finally, they have a clear captaincy option who can lead the team for the entire season.
In IPL 2024, PBKS fielded three different captains as Shikhar Dhawan suffered from fitness issues. But neither him nor Sam Curran or Jitesh Sharma encouraged any confidence with their leadership. It caused needless inconsistency which is fatal in a league as closely faught as the IPL.
Shreyas seems past his fitness issues and as an IPL-winning captain, he'll garner respect and time from his teammates, the management and the fans. He and Ponting worked together to take the Delhi Capitals to their only final in 2020 and there's no reason why they can't build towards that again.
Shreyas is an excellent leader and if he bats as well as he did for the Kolkata Knight Riders last year, PBKS would solve two issues -- captaincy and the absence of an Indian spin-hitter in middle-order -- in one go.
#1 More suitable overseas talent with good backups
PBKS have often switched between being let down by either their overseas contingent or the Indian core every year. In IPL 2024, it was the former with a mostly English combination of Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, and Liam Livingstone offering no consistency.
Statistically, PBKS' batting was among the worst in the season. They have done well to try and change that this year.
There's a running joke that Ponting, an Australian legend, has let go of all Englishmen and signed Aussies but the buys make sense. Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen, and Marcus Stoinis are clear upgrades on Bairstow, Curran and Livingstone for the roles PBKS need them for.
Meanwhile, Josh Inglis, Azamatullah Omarzai, Lockie Ferguson, Xavier Bartlett are excellent backups with T20 pedigree that PBKS lacked in their big-name non-performers last season.
It's a nice blend of IPL experience and the unpredictability of the underrated talents like Inglis, Omarzai and Bartlett. With a great Indian core surrounding them and mostly leading in responsibility (Shreyas and Arshdeep Singh for their respective departments) and limelight, we might see the best of PBKS this season.