PBKS end association with Sanjay Bangar ahead of IPL 2025 - Reports

Punjab Kings (PBKS) team management is en route to a revamp following Ricky Ponting's appointment as head coach. The franchise has parted ways with Sanjay Bangar ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega-auction.

Bangar served as the head of the cricket development for PBKS in IPL 2024. He was roped in by the franchise in December 2023. The former India all-rounder had previously served as the team's head coach from 2014 to 2016.

Ahead of IPL 2025, Punjab have decided to end their association with Bangar, according to ESPNcricinfo. The side performed underwhelmingly in the 2024 edition of the league, finishing at the penultimate spot in the standings with just five wins from their 14 outings.

A new-look Punjab think tank is on the card. Apart from the inclusion of Ponting, the side are also on the hunt for a new captain following Shikhar Dhawan's retirement. Sam Curran was the stand-in captain in IPL 2024 after Dhawan suffered a shoulder injury.

It remains to be seen if Curran will be made the full-time captain or if the team management looks to rope in a new skipper at the mega-auction. Punjab are among the three teams who are yet to clinch a single IPL title despite being part of the league right from the inaugural season in 2008.

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"Let's chase greatness" - Priety Zinta on Ricky Ponting coming on board as PBKS' new head coach

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has replaced Trevor Bayliss as the head coach of PBKS. The team's co-owner Preity Zinta shared a post on social media earlier this year, expressing her excitement at Ponting's appointment.

The popular Bollywood actress wrote on the microblogging platform X:

"Huge welcome to @RickyPonting as our new head coach! Let’s chase greatness."

It is worth mentioning that Ricky Ponting has served as the head coach of Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in the past. He parted ways with Delhi earlier this year after a seven-year stint.

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