When Punjab Kings (PBKS) play Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Sunday, May 18, two of their important players will be sidelined.
Australian cricketers Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis are expected to join the PBKS bowling team early next week, according to bowling coach James Hopes. Another player who will not be available for the match against the Royals is Aaron Hardie. Hopes thinks the PBKS team has enough depth, though, to make up for the absences.
“Our squad is not fully assembled. Although Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis are expected to join us early next week, I must admit that I have a lot of faith in our squad’s depth, as evidenced by the presence of Mitchell Owens. Today, Marco Jansen, who has been training in Dubai, arrives. We have our entire team except for Aaron Hardie and the two Australians,” Hopes stated prior to Saturday’s game.
“There have been certain times in the tournament that Josh and Marcus have not been selected anyway, so we are pretty bullish about our squad,” he stated.
The former Australian all-rounder also discussed why he chose to stay in India despite doubts about the IPL’s return. According to Hopes, the Punjab management chose to remain in New Delhi since, had they gone back, they would not have had much time to spend with their family.
“I took a bus down to here after sitting in Delhi. Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting, myself, and the other managers stayed because there was a possibility that the event may resume on Thursday night following the ceasefire. at addition, I would have had to spend almost twelve hours at my home if we had gone back to Australia and then returned,” he said.
For the first time since the 2014 Indian Premier League, PBKS is almost certain to qualify for the playoffs. In the 11 games they have played thus far, they have won seven and lost just three. There was no outcome from one of their games. On the points table, the team captained by Shreyas Iyer is ranked third. They will advance to the playoffs if they win on Sunday.
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