Ponting, sacked in July by Delhi Capitals after a seven-year stint, will have a huge task in hand to guide PBKS back into the IPL playoffs. PBKS finished ninth in IPL 2024 and have not reached the playoffs since 2014 when they were runners-up having lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final. Ponting set for PBKS role According to a report from ESPNcricinfo, Ponting has signed a multi-year deal with PBKS and will have huge decision-making ahead of the mega-auctions that are set to take place at the end of the month. His first job will be to appoint a coaching staff which currently comprises Trevor Bayliss (head coach), Sanjay Bangar (head of cricket development), Charl Langeveldt (fast-bowling coach), and Sunil Joshi (spin-bowling coach). The second job will be to prepare a strategy for the IPL auctions and retain players for the next season. The likes of Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran and Harshal Patel remain top of the retention list while Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma could also give a good headache to the Aussie. The IPL auction strategy will also include getting a new captain for the side after Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement.  New team for Ponting Having started his IPL career with Kolkata Knight Riders, Ponting's first piece of silverware came in 2013 when he won the title with Mumbai Indians. He would then serve in a coaching role at Mumbai before being appointed as the Delhi Capitals head coach in 2017, with him taking over during the IPL 2018 season. During his stint as DC coach, he helped the franchise reach playoffs from 2019 to 2021. The IPL 2020 season remains the most successful in the franchise's history having reached the IPL final but lost to Mumbai Indians.