Get ready for the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2025! Big changes are around the corner. New coaches are coming! Teams are shaking up their structures! IPL 2025 isn’t just about on-field thrills. There’s off-field buzz too. Let’s dive into the big coaching news, the key people, and what die-hard fans should watch out for in the new season.
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Ricky Ponting Joins Punjab Kings as Head Coach
Ahead of IPL 2025, one of the biggest changes is expected to be the appointment of Ricky Ponting as the new head coach of the Punjab Kings. The report from ESPNcricinfo confirmed that the former Australian captain will take over the role under a multi-year contract. The return to the IPL coaching scene for Ponting comes after he parted company with the Delhi Capitals earlier this year following a seven-year tenure.
Although Ponting did not win a title with the Capitals, his captaincy and experience are widely regarded as major contributors to the progress of the franchise. Most recently, Ponting was at the forefront of a Major League Cricket title win with the Washington Freedom, evidence that the former Australia skipper remains capable of delivering success in the most competitive of T20 leagues.
That the Punjab Kings franchise has made Ponting its head coach says much about them wanting to redo their fortunes after inconsistent outings in the past seasons of the IPL. Still unclear is which of the current coaching staff will be retained for IPL 2025. Last season’s group, comprising Trevor Bayliss – head coach, Sanjay Bangar – head of cricket development, Charl Langeveldt – fast-bowling coach, and Sunil Joshi – spin-bowling coach – could see changes with Ponting’s arrival.
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Rahul Dravid Returns to Rajasthan Royals as Head Coach
Rahul Dravid is back with the Rajasthan Royals as head coach. After coaching India’s men’s team and even helping bring home a T20 World Cup, his run ended in June 2024. Indian cricket fans hold Dravid in high regard. He’s taking over the Royals from Kumar Sangakkara, former director of cricket and head coach since 2021.
What’s interesting? Dravid has a history with the Royals. He’d been a mentor and a coach there before he coached the national team. Word on the street is, since Sangakkara left the Royals, England wants him for their men’s white-ball coach. Now, with IPL know-how and player and coach experience, lots see Dravid as the right guy for the Royals to show up in IPL 2025.
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Ponting Open to Future IPL Coaching Opportunities
In an interview with the ICC Review, Ricky Ponting looked back upon his departure from Delhi Capitals and spoke about his ongoing interest in coaching in the IPL. The coach admitted that his seven-season tenure with the franchise didn’t produce a title, which had a mutual ending.
The former Aussie skipper said Capitals want somebody who would be able to commit more time in the off-season, with the local players in India as well, something which Ponting himself couldn’t do due to other responsibilities.
“I think what you’ll find is that they’ll probably end up with an Indian-based head coach,” he said.
Though this marked the end of his tenure with Delhi, Ponting showed that he was not closing the door to coaching offers from the IPL. In fact, he hinted that these opportunities might just pop up within the next few months, and indeed, he is excited about his possible return for IPL 2025.
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What to Expect in IPL 2025: Coaching Shifts and Strategy
Team strategies and dynamics in IPL 2025 might see a shift as coaching positions are being shuffled among several franchises. Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals, known for their inconsistent performances, have made prominent coaching hires signaling their aim for improvement.
Punjab Kings’ choice of Ponting hints at adopting a stricter, more aggressive game plan, given his well-known strategic prowess. In contrast, Dravid at Rajasthan Royals is expected to employ his composed leadership to groom emerging players and foster team unity. The blend of international coaches with local expertise in IPL 2025 can surely make the season exciting.
Conclusion
With the impending IPL 2025, speculations about coaching changes and team restructuring are at an all-time high. The two major talking points will involve the return of Ricky Ponting to head the Punjab Kings and Rahul Dravid to head the Rajasthan Royals-a fresh approach for both teams. Teams changing their leadership in this manner would surely shift the dynamics in search of the next season’s coveted IPL trophy.
For more news and updates on IPL 2025, watch this space. Follow us as we update you on the latest happenings, player news, team standings, and all else about the Indian Premier League.