Punjab Kings coach ‘not sure’ about opening pair ahead of IPL 2025 opener against Gujarat Titans

As the Punjab Kings prepare for their IPL 2025 showpiece against Gujarat Titans with a lot of uncertainty around their Openers. Assistant Coach Brad Haddin pointed to the patience required in picking the best pair, particularly with players such as Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis.

New Delhi: The Punjab Kings are preparing for their first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against the Gujarat Titans on Tuesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, but there is uncertainty regarding the team’s opening lineup.

Despite thorough preparations and a solid team led by Shreyas Iyer, assistant coach Brad Haddin acknowledged that the franchise is still considering its choices for the opening pair.

During a press conference held before the match, Haddin recognized the difficulty in determining the best opening partnership.

“We are not sure who opens yet. We have got guys like Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis who have done it well in the past as well. So we have to make sure that we get the right combination,” Haddin mentioned that it remains uncertain who will step up to confront the strong bowling lineup of the Gujarat Titans, which is spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Mohammad Siraj.

Haddin expressed confidence in the team’s preparation and readiness for the upcoming season, despite the prevailing uncertainty.

“I think the key focus for us since we’ve got here is to get our players ready for the season. We had a good camp in Dharamsala, where we got to know a lot of our Indian players, and we’re very excited about the talent we have. They’re very athletic, they’re going to be a brave, brave cricket team,” he said.

Under the guidance of head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Iyer, the Punjab Kings are focusing on creating a unified and dynamic team. Haddin highlighted that the squad has the ability to adjust to different match scenarios due to its versatile composition.

“We want to make sure that they play brave cricket and as per the situation in front of them. This is a new group. We have players in every position we needed who can adapt to play in different roles. I think we’ve got experience right through,” he added.

Haddin commended captain Shreyas Iyer for his leadership, attributing the development of a culture of unity and dedication among the team to his efforts.

“I think the culture is driven from our leaders. We have a very driven captain in Shreyas Iyer who has had a lot of success in this format of the game. He has brought everyone together. The staff is on the same page as the players. We are a really tight group, but it’s been led by the standards and the habits that the captain sets,” Haddin said.