Punjab Kings captain Shreyas lyer and head coach Ricky Ponting during a practice session ahead of IPL 2025 at PCA Cricket Stadium, Mohali, Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Punjab Kings broke the bank at the Indian Premier League 2025 auctions, roping in star players, seasoned campaigners and all-rounders who can make an impact.
Former Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals player Hanuma Vihari believes that the Kings head into the season as the most balanced team.
“Punjab Kings looks very solid. They’ve got a good captain in Shreyas Iyer, the winning captain last year for Kolkata Knight Riders. They’ve got Ricky Ponting, a very straightforward coach. They’ve got Josh Inglis, an excellent white ball player, and Glenn Maxwell, who on his day can change the game around,” JioHotstar expert Vihari said.
“They look like a very formidable side. On their day, I think they can upset any team.”
Eye-catching openers
SRH openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head plundered 691 runs last season at an average of 49.35. The pair scored at a run rate of 13.46 – the highest for any T20 partnership with at least 350 runs since 2024.
“Strike rate-wise you can’t think ahead of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, what they have done last year. Just in terms of what start they can give,” Vihari remarked.
However, the 31-year-old also backed Gujarat Titans pair Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler to come good. “That’s one opening pair I’m really looking forward to, they’re both quality whiteball players. We all know what Shubman Gill has done recently in white ball cricket and especially in IPL as well. In Ahmedabad, they will be a treat to the eyes.
Vihari also backed SRH to finally breach the 300-run mark. “It (300) is going to be a big talking point whenever SRH plays this year, isn’t it? With Ishan Kishan coming in, nothing is impossible. On their day, batting first on a good wicket at a smallish ground, I think that 300 is definitely possible,” he stated.
Published – March 19, 2025 11:57 pm IST