Massive boost for Punjab Kings, WTC final-bound South Africa Marco Jansen to re-join squad for last leg of IPL 2025

The availability of Marco Jansen for the last leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has come up as a huge boost for Punjab Kings (PBKS).

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Punjab Kings are currently in discussions with the all-rounder to determine the duration of his stay with the franchise, particularly if they progress further into the tournament.

ALSO READ: 'Virat Kohli wanted to continue playing Tests, but...': Former India star's big claim on superstar batter's Test retirement

Marco Jansen, who is also part of South Africa's squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025 final against Australia, has proven to be a valuable asset for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, having taken 11 wickets while maintaining a respectable economy rate of 8.8. His ability to extract bounce even on slower pitches makes him a crucial player. The availability of Marco Jansen will be closely monitored by other teams vying for playoff spots, as several players from those squads are also part of WTC final squad. These players include Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals), Corbin Bosch and Ryan Rickelton (both Mumbai Indians), Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Lungi Ngidi (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), and Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants).

PBKS will take on Rajasthan Royals on May 18 followed by a clash against Delhi Capitals on May 24. The Shreyas Iyer-led side will then lock horns with Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 26.

In their recent abandoned match against Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings fielded four overseas players, Marco Jansen from South Africa, Azmatullah Omarzai from Afghanistan, and Australians Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis. While Omarzai has already confirmed his availability for the remainder of the season, Josh Inglis is part of the World Test Championship squad, casting doubt on his return. The availability of the other two Australians, Inglis and Stoinis, along with Aaron Hardie, is still uncertain. However, the franchise has received positive news regarding two other Australian players, Xavier Bartlett and Mitchell Owen, who have confirmed their availability.

Punjab Kings are scheduled to play their final three league matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Currently positioned third in the points table with 15 points (comprising 14 points for seven wins and one point from a no-result match against KKR) after 11 matches, the Punjab Kings are tantalizingly close to securing their first playoff appearance in 11 years.