Delhi: Punjab Kings (PBKs) now need to win every match to keep their playoff expectations alive in IPL 2025. The team, captained by Shreyas Iyer, who scored 15 points in 11 matches, will take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 18, but before this important match, the team has suffered a big shock because some important foreign players will not be able to play in this match.
Stonis and English will not be available
Punjab Kings Assistant Coach James Hops has confirmed that Australian all -rounder Marcus Stoynis and wicketkeeper batsman Josh English have not been able to join the team till now and will not be able to play in the match against Rajasthan Royals. Both players returned to their country after the tournament stayed for a week due to India-Pakistan tension.
Marco Yansen will not even play this match
Hops told that South African fast bowler Marco Yanseen will not play in this match. However, he has now returned to India and was training in Dubai. The team management hopes that they will be available in further matches.
Expressed confidence in the depth of the team
However, despite the absence of these important players, coach Hops believes that the team’s depth is good and the rest of the players have the ability to win the match. He said, “We did not fed Josh and Marcus in some matches even before. We have players like Mitchell Owens. So we are very confident about our team.
Ricky Ponting’s decision overturned the situation
The understanding of the team’s head coach Ricky Ponting helped to handle the situation. When the tournament was stopped, the Punjab Kings team was preparing to return home, but after the news of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Ponting decided to stay in India at the last moment.
The reason for staying in Delhi gave
James Hops told that he and the coaching staff stayed in Delhi as he would have got time to spend 12 hours with the family to return home. So he thought it better to stay in India. Hops said, “I was in Delhi and came here from there. I, Ricky Ponting, Brad Haddin and the rest of the management decided to stop because we expected the tournament to start soon.”
Decisioners will be compared to further
After the match against Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings will take on Delhi Capitals on May 24 and Mumbai Indians on 26 May. If the team wants to remain in the playoff race, then you have to win all these matches.
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