IPL 2025: 4 overseas players who will start for Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings (PBKS) had pressed the reset button hard ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025) mega auction. They then had a really solid auction, during which they managed to buy Shreyas Iyer, the second most expensive player to be sold in the auction, for INR 26.75 crore. They also acquired pacer Arshdeep Singh. 

In terms of the overseas talents, they have the Australian wicketkeeper batter Josh Inglis, four pace bowling allrounders Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell as the spin bowling all-rounder and Lockie Ferguson and Xavier Bartlett in the pace department. 

With so many all-rounders and pace bowling options being available in their overseas talents, PBKS would have a good headache when deciding their four overseas choices in their first 11. Let’s see the most probable choices -

Marcus Stoinis

As he’s popularly called, the Hulk has 1,866 IPL runs at an average of 28.27 and a strike rate of 142. He has also taken 43 wickets at an average of 29. These numbers put him right up there with the best all-rounders in the league, and PBKS will certainly look to use both. 

He will bat at the top and, with his smart medium-paced bowling, provide some control in the middle overs. 

Azmatullah Omarzai

Another success story from war-torn Afghanistan, Omarzai’s ability to move the new ball and his newfound ability to clear the ropes with ease in the middle overs for Afghanistan puts him ahead of some solid overseas options like Aaron Hardie and Lockie Ferguson on the team sheet. 

If he performs well in the first few opportunities, it might also be possible that he’ll play the entire season for PBKS. 

Glenn Maxwell

The Aussie allrounder has played 134 IPL games and has experience playing T20 and T20I cricket across the globe for a plethora of teams. 

He has been in great form in the Big Bash League for the Melbourne Stars this season, and his strike rate of 156.7 in the IPL can increase further with the pitches being conducive to batters and the impact substitute rule being in place. 

PBKS would also get a canny spin bowling option with him in the 11. 

Marco Jansen

Jansen’s international career has been on a trajectory that’s only going up. He averages in the early 20s overall with the ball and leaks only about eight runs/over, which is much better than an average IPL pacer. 

His wicket-taking abilities at the top, combined with his clean hitting in the lower order, might make him play in the first eleven ahead of Lockie Ferguson.