Priyansh, Prabh...: Ponting Names 4 PBKS Stars Who Can Play For India In Future
Last Updated:
Prabhsimran Singh has hammered 499 runs in 14 IPL 2025 matches played so far, whereas Arya has 424 runs to his name.
Legendary Australian cricketer and former captain Ricky Ponting is working as head coach of Punjab Kings in the ongoing IPL 2025. He took charge of the Mohali-based franchise in August 2024, and in his first year as head coach, he helped Punjab Kings finish as the table toppers. Ponting, who has won an IPL title as head coach of the Mumbai Indians in 2015 and finished as runner-up with Delhi Capitals in 2020, has a chance to become the first head coach in IPL history to win the title with two teams.
Ahead of PBKS' first qualifier match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Mullanpur on Thursday (May 29), Ponting reserved big praise for uncapped players – Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh – by saying that they can play for India in the future.
'There are four of them who can. You look at Priyansh Arya. He has been a revelation for us at the top of the order. I must have watched – I don't know how many hours of video I watched on him going into the auction, but he was the one that I wanted to make sure that we got," Ponting was quoted as saying by PTI.
'Prabhsimran is probably the obvious one when you talk about playing for India. Still only 24 years of age. I read somewhere the other day that he's now got the most runs for an uncapped player in IPL history."
'(Nehal) Wadhera is someone that I think could play for India as well in the middle order. And Shashank, you've only got to look at the cold, hard numbers with him. His strike rate and boundary percentage at the end of innings are as good as anyone going around."
'So again, this year, he struck at 185 or something like that (in the league stage). All four of those guys could play. As I said, (Harpreet) Brar's been outstanding for us; (Vijaykumar) Vyshak is also on the radar (for the national selectors)," he added.
In IPL 2025, Arya has amassed a total of 424 runs in IPL 2025, whereas Prabhsimran has scored 499 runs in 14 matches. The two opening batters will be key players for the Shreyas Iyer-led side in the playoff matches starting May 29.
First Published:
May 29, 2025, 18:18 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
He Should Have Slapped Me...: Shashank Singh Breaks Silence On Shreyas Iyers Angry Reaction After Qualifier 2 Of IPL 2025
Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Shashank Singh has opened up on Shreyas Iyer's angry reaction after his run-out in Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Ahmedabad. PBKS skipper Iyer played a fantastic knock (87 not out off 41) as his team chased down the target of 204 in 19 overs against Mumbai Indians. However, Shreyas Iyer got extremely furious at Shashank Singh for his lazy running, which led to his run out at a crucial stage of the game. Recently, Shashank said that PBKS skipper should've slapped him. He also revealed that even his father didn't speak to him till the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which Punjab Kings lost by six runs. "I deserve it, Iyer should have slapped me, my father didn't speak to me till the finals. I was casual, I was walking on the beach not even in the garden. It was a crucial time, Shreyas was clear that I didn't expect this from you but later he took me out for dinner," Shashank told the Indian Express. Shashank has also hailed Iyer's captaincy, saying that there is no better skipper than Shreyas in current times in world cricket. "Whatever I have spoken to others and seen, there is no better captain than him in current times in world cricket. He gives us freedom, he treats everyone equally. No one will say, Shreyas has an attitude. The youngsters in the dressing room find him to be a chill bandaa. Shreyas is the only captain, who has told us that if anyone has any suggestion during the game, he can come and convey it to him. If he feels it's the right advice, he will take it. It's rare," he said. When it comes to his performance in the IPL 2025 final, the 33-year-old remained unbeaten on 61 off 30. However, it wasn't good enough as PBKS lost to RCB by six runs. During that innings, the right-hander missed a couple of easy full tosses, including one in the final over. "I had done my calculation of the last two overs, Bhuvi likes to bowl yorkers so I had planned to get at least 16-17 runs from him. My calculation was that in the last over our target should be 24 runs in 6 balls. I got only 13 from Bhuvi's over though, so the final over runs needed was 30," said Shashank. "Mentally, my mind was ready to get a first ball yorker from Hazelwood. So I had positioned myself but I never anticipated a full toss one, that too on my thigh pad. Now I feel, if I would have connected it, even if I got it on the handle of the bat, I would have got maximum, because the fine-leg was near. I was hoping for a wide from him but it never came. When I saw the scoreboard stating the last ball needed 12 runs, I knew it's all over. People appreciated my batting wherever I have gone but all are reminding me of that one full toss miss. Mujhe bahut bura laga. The ball was on my hip, square leg was up, I just had to get that bat in which I couldn't. From hotel to airport to ground to home, everyone had that one point 'bhaiyya woh ball mar dete bas'," he added.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Brentford star Wissa scores in Congolese victory
Brentford striker Yoane Wissa was among the goals as the Democratic Republic of Congo beat Madagascar 3-1 on Sunday in a warm-up match for 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The 28-year-old, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season for the Bees, struck after 33 minutes with a close-range shot that beat goalkeeper Sonny Laiton at his near post. Earlier, Turkey-based Simon Banza had put the Congolese ahead, and he scored again midway through the second half in French city Orleans. El Hadary Raheriniaina reduced the arrears in added time for Madagascar, who lie 54 places below DR Congo in the world rankings. DR Congo are one point ahead of Senegal and Sudan in a World Cup qualifying group and will have home advantage over both rivals later this year. They are hoping to return to the global football showpiece for the first time since 1974. The country was called Zaire then and they suffered a humiliating 9-0 drubbing from Yugoslavia in a group match. Veteran Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes calmly converted an 80th-minute penalty to earn the tiny west African island nation a 1-1 draw against Georgia in Kutaisi. Cape Verde, who came to the Caucasus after a three-goal victory over Malaysia, had fallen behind in first half added time when Saba Lobjanidze scored off a far-post header. Reigning African champions the Ivory Coast fielded an experimental side against 2026 World Cup qualifiers New Zealand and lost 1-0 in Toronto. The Ivorians had looked the likelier team to score in the first half only to fall behind on 41 minutes when Elijah Just struck. Benni McCarthy, a former Manchester United first-team coach, is still seeking his first victory in charge of Kenya after a 0-0 draw with Chad in Moroccan city Marrakesh. The scorer of a record 32 goals for South Africa during a playing career that included spells in the Premier League and La Liga, has drawn twice and lost once since being appointed this year. dl/dmc/pb Manchester United
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Will develop cricket grounds in all districts: ACA president Sivanath
The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) is working with the State government to develop cricket grounds in all the districts, said ACA president and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath. Participating in the ACA's 72nd Annual General Body Meeting in Vijayawada on June 8, Sunday, Mr. Sivanath said at present, the ACA is developing cricket grounds in Nellore and Kurnool on its own land. In addition to this, the ACA is focusing on bringing talented players into the limelight, he added. The Andhra Premier League is being organised to give a platform to the talented cricketers identified from across the State. 'We will ensure that only the best-performing players get to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL),' the MP said. This was the first annual meeting since Mr. Kesineni Sivanath assumed charge as ACA President. He expressed happiness over the successful conduct of the annual meeting. He emphasised that the association would not only focus on identifying talent but would also provide all facilities to aspiring players to encourage them. Listing the achievements, Mr. Sivanath said the ACA, apex body, elected eight months ago, has since striven hard to develop cricket in the State. 'The ACA-VDCA International stadium was modernised in just 45 days. Out of four IPL matches allotted to the venue, two matches were successfully held. Additionally, the stadium is set to host five matches of the Women's World Cup,' he said. The MP added that there is a need to better the infrastructure for hosting cricket matches. The Visakhapatnam stadium will be further modernised so more international matches can be held, he said. ACA apex body members, District Cricket Association representatives, and international players participated in the meeting.
