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Punjab Kings (PBKS) assistant coach James Hopes has provided an update on the availability of their overseas players ahead of their upcoming IPL 2025 encounter against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 18. As the IPL 2025 resumes following a week-long break, PBKS will be looking to reignite their push for a playoff berth. Having displayed commendable show this season, Shreyas Iyer and his team have accumulated 15 points from their 11 matches thus far. However, they recognize the need for a strong final surge to secure a playoff spot, a feat they haven't achieved since 2014.
In his statement, Hopes confirmed that Punjab Kings are currently awaiting the return of Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis. Unfortunately for the team, neither of these key overseas players will be available for the crucial clash against the Rajasthan Royals. Adding to the unavailability, Hopes also mentioned that Marco Jansen has joined the list of players who will not feature in the said match.
"We do not have a complete squad. We hope that Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis join us early next week, but to be honest, I'm pretty bullish on the depth in our squad, like we have Mitchell Owens here. Marco Jansen arrives today, he has been training in Dubai. Outside of those two Australians and Aaron Hardie, we have got our full squad," James Hopes said in the pre-match press conference.
The absence of these key overseas players stems from their return to their respective home countries following the week-long suspension of the tournament, a measure taken due to the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict.
Despite the unavailability of the two Australian players, Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis, for this significant encounter in Jaipur, Punjab Kings assistant coach James Hopes has expressed a sense of calm and confidence regarding the team's prospects.
"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," Hopes added.
It was the head coach of PBKS Ricky Ponting who played a pivotal role in persuading his players and coaching staff to remain in India. The team was reportedly on the verge of boarding their flight back home when the news of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan was announced. Ponting made a decisive last-minute call, ensuring that the majority of his overseas players also opted to stay.
Elaborating on the Punjab management's decision to remain in New Delhi, assistant coach James Hopes explained that returning to their respective home countries for a brief period would have ultimately left them with an insufficient amount of quality time to spend with their families, making it a less appealing option compared to staying in India.
"I was sitting in Delhi and then I was on a bus down to here. Myself, Ricky Ponting, Brad Haddin, and the rest of the management, we stayed because there was a chance that after the ceasefire that the tournament might get up and running on Thursday night. And for us to go back to Australia and come back again, I would have spent about 12 hours in my house so I didn't think that was worth doing," Hopes signed off.
After locking horns with RR, PBKS will then take on Delhi Capitals on May 24 and Mumbai Indians on May 26.
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