New Delhi [India]: Punjab Kings (PBKS) have received a significant boost ahead of the IPL 2025 restart, with Xavier Bartlett, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mitchell Owen confirming their return to the squad. The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League will resume on May 17, following a temporary suspension due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.
Overseas Squad Uncertainty Remains
While Bartlett, Omarzai, and Owen are set to rejoin the franchise, uncertainty looms over key overseas stars like Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, and Aaron Hardie. According to ESPNcricinfo, no official confirmation has been provided regarding their return.
Notably, Jansen and Inglis have been named in South Africa and Australia’s squads for the World Test Championship final, which begins June 11 at Lord’s, potentially ruling them out of the IPL’s concluding stages.
PBKS Prepares for Playoff Push
PBKS currently sits third on the points table with 15 points from 11 matches and remains well-positioned for a playoff berth. The franchise was playing against Delhi Capitals on May 8 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala when the match was abandoned due to military escalations.
Now, with the ceasefire in place and the IPL set to resume, PBKS has called all players and staff to reassemble in the next 48 hours, with training set to resume in Jaipur on Thursday.
PBKS Remaining Fixtures:
- May 18 – vs Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur
- May 24 – vs Delhi Capitals
- May 26 – vs Mumbai Indians
IPL 2025: Revised Schedule and Playoffs
Following a weekend of negotiations with the Indian government and key stakeholders, the BCCI confirmed the revised schedule for the remaining 17 fixtures on Monday.
Revised Playoff Dates:
- Qualifier 1: May 29
- Eliminator: May 30
- Qualifier 2: June 1
- Final: June 3
The venues for the playoff matches are yet to be announced, but six cities—Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Bengaluru—will host the remaining 13 league games.
Coaching Unit Remains Intact
Despite the suspension, PBKS’s overseas coaching staff, including head coach Ricky Ponting and assistant coaches Brad Haddin and James Hopes, remained in India. This continuity in the support staff is expected to benefit PBKS as they push for a first-ever IPL title.