IPL 2025: Former Australian captain blames PSL for Punjab Kings’ replacement struggles

Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting has pointed to the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) as a key reason for the team's difficulty in finding quality player replacements during the IPL 2025 season.

Speaking after PBKS's match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Ponting confirmed that the franchise is actively searching for replacements, but the timing of PSL 10 has limited their options.

“We’ve been a bit patient,” Ponting said. 

“Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) has only been out for a couple of days, and Lockie (Ferguson) has been missing for two or three weeks. But with the PSL happening at the same time, there aren’t many high-quality replacements available, to be honest,” he added. 

Ponting explained that while they are still assessing the international market, the team is also focusing on Indian domestic talent. 

“We’re exploring some younger Indian players to see if they can fill those roles,” he further added.

Punjab Kings have suffered two major blows this season. Glenn Maxwell was recently ruled out after injuring his finger in training. Earlier in the campaign, New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson was sidelined for the rest of the season due to a serious injury.

Captain Shreyas Iyer also addressed the issue during the toss against CSK, confirming that no replacement decisions have been made yet. 

“We haven’t finalized anything,” he said. 

“But we are confident in the strength and mindset of our squad. We have several players outside the playing XI who can step up when needed,” he added. 

Ponting further revealed that a few young Indian players are currently training with the team and may soon be signed by PBKS. 

“We’re taking a couple of players with us to Dharamsala,” he said. 

“They’ve trained with us and are being closely assessed. They could earn contracts soon. It has to be before our 12th game, so stay tuned,” he concluded. 

With crucial matches ahead, PBKS hopes to finalize replacements soon and regain momentum in the IPL 2025 season.