ESPNcricinfo has learned that Ponting has signed a multi-year contract with the Kings, a multi-owner franchise. Pitching, understandably, will take the final call from the rest of the coaching staff. It is not yet clear who remains on the books of the coaching staff from last year: Trevor Bayliss (head coach), Sanjay Bangar (head of cricket development), Charl Langeveldt (fast bowling coach), Sunil Joshi (spin-bowling coach ).
Ponting will be the third coach in four seasons for the Kings, who finished ninth in the 2024 season. They have not made it to the IPL playoffs since 2014, where they finished second. Ponting’s first challenge will be sorting out potential players for next season as franchises wait for the IPL to finalize their retention rules.
Harshal Patel, who won the purple trophy for the second time in IPL 2024, and the Indian uncapped duo of Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma were among the key players for the Kings last season. Kings also have Indian fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, legspinner Rahul Chahar in their squad and a healthy group of overseas players, including England trio Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow and South Africa quick. Kagiso Rabada.
With Shikhar Dhawan retiring recently, Kings will once again look to identify a new captain.
Ponting has been part of the IPL setup since the inaugural season in 2008, first as a player for Kolkata Knight Riders followed by Mumbai Indians where he stepped down as captain midway through the 2013 season, paving the way for Rohit Sharma to take over. Mumbai won the title in the same year, with Ponting continuing in an advisory role in 2014 and serving as head coach for two seasons in 2015 and 2016.
In 2018, Ponting took over as head coach of the Capitals who made three consecutive playoff appearances between 2019 and 2021, during which they qualified for the inaugural IPL finals in 2020. After ending his relationship with the Capitals in July, Ponting was the head coach. during the Washington Freedom’s bid to win the title in the 2024 Major League Cricket season.
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