Punjab Kings (PBKS) will enter the IPL 2026 mini-auction without their head coach Ricky Ponting, who will be unavailable due to commentary commitments for the Ashes series with Australia’s Channel Seven Network. According to a Cricbuzz report, team captain Shreyas Iyer is expected to lead the franchise’s auction table at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on December 16.

Despite Ponting’s absence, the Punjab Kings management is reportedly confident, mainly because the team has minimal activity planned for the auction. PBKS has only four slots left, including two overseas positions, and a remaining purse of ₹11.50 crore.

Shreyas Iyer’s Leadership Turned Punjab Kings’ Fortunes

Shreyas Iyer’s leadership proved transformative for Punjab Kings during IPL 2025. In his reunion with Ricky Ponting—whom he previously worked with at Delhi Capitals—Iyer guided the team to:

• Their first playoffs appearance in 11 years
• Their first final since the 2014 season

Iyer also led from the front with a phenomenal batting season, finishing as PBKS’ leading run-scorer with:

• 604 runs
• An average of 50
• A strike rate of 175

His performance made him the backbone of the franchise and a natural choice to represent PBKS at the auction.

Iyer will be joined at the auction table by:

• Sairaj Bahutule – Spin Bowling Coach
• Trevor Gonsalves – Assistant Bowling Coach
• Ashish Tuli – General Manager

Punjab Kings’ Likely Auction Strategy

PBKS released three overseas players — Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, and Kyle Jamieson — suggesting the franchise may prioritize overseas reinforcements.

Likely targets include:

1. Indian Backup Spinner

A domestic spinner who can support Rahul Chahar or serve as bench strength.

2. Overseas Top-Order Batter / Batting All-Rounder

A flexible player who can anchor or accelerate, especially in case of injuries or form issues.

3. Overseas Fast Bowling Backup

With Jamieson released, PBKS is expected to look for a reliable pace option to balance their squad.

The team aims to complete its 25-member squad while making impactful yet value-driven buys.

Other Franchise Updates

Vettori to Attend SRH Auction Table

Daniel Vettori, Australia’s assistant coach, will be present for Sunrisers Hyderabad despite the third Ashes Test starting the next day. SRH has:

• 10 slots to fill
• A substantial purse of ₹25.50 crore

Vettori made a similar arrangement with Cricket Australia during last year’s auction, leaving in between the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Lucknow Super Giants’ Representation

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will have full management representation, including:

• Justin Langer – Head Coach
• Tom Moody – Global Director of Cricket
• Bharat Arun – Bowling Coach
• Members of the ownership group

Google has released its annual Year in Search 2025, revealing the most searched topics across various categories globally and country-wise. In cricket-loving Pakistan—where stars like Babar Azam and Virat Kohli usually dominate online trends—the list surprisingly crowned a different name as the most searched athlete of 2025. And it wasn’t a Pakistani superstar or one of India’s veteran icons.

The top spot in Pakistan was claimed by young Indian opener Abhishek Sharma, surpassing household names like Kohli, Babar, and Shaheen Afridi.

Why Abhishek Sharma Dominated Pakistan’s Search Trends

Abhishek Sharma’s sudden rise to fame in Pakistan can be attributed to his explosive performances during the Asia Cup 2025, where India and Pakistan met three times in just 15 days. His fearless batting style and aggressive strokeplay particularly grabbed attention.

His standout knocks against Pakistan:

• 31 off 13 balls (League stage)
• 74 off 39 balls (Super Four)
• Final: 5 runs, but India won thanks to Tilak Varma’s heroics

The biggest talking point was his ruthless attack on Pakistan’s premier pacer Shaheen Afridi, scoring heavily off him in the powerplay overs in both major matches. Pakistani fans and analysts were left stunned as Abhishek dismantled their bowling attack with ease.

This high-voltage rivalry ensured Abhishek’s name remained at the top of Pakistan’s Google searches throughout the year.

Most Searched Athletes in Pakistan (2025)

According to Google’s official list:

1. Abhishek Sharma
2. Hassan Nawaz
3. Irfan Khan Niazi
4. Sahibzada Farhan
5. Muhammad Abbas

Surprisingly, neither Babar Azam nor Shaheen Afridi, nor even global star Virat Kohli, made it to the list.

Abhishek Sharma Among Top Google Searches in India Too

Abhishek’s popularity wasn’t limited to Pakistan. In India, he ranked third among the most searched personalities in 2025, behind:

1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi
2. Priyansh Arya

Both Suryavanshi and Arya enjoyed breakout seasons during the IPL 2025, which propelled their online popularity skyrocketing.

India–Pakistan Matches Not the Top Trend

Despite the usual hype around India vs. Pakistan matches, neither country listed those matches in their top trending searches. Instead:

• India’s most searched match: India vs England
• Pakistan’s most searched match: Pakistan vs South Africa

This shift highlights the increasing global interest in more competitive series and emerging cricketing narratives beyond the India–Pakistan rivalry.

Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has unleashed a scathing critique of England’s performance in the ongoing Ashes 2025–26 after the visitors slumped to a crushing eight-wicket defeat in the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Australia extended their dominance in the series with the win, taking a commanding 2–0 lead. England, who were outplayed in all departments, have now lost both Tests inside four days—a worrying sign for a team that arrived with bold claims and a renewed “Bazball” approach.

Australia outclass England in Brisbane

The second Test, played from December 4, highlighted the growing gulf between the two sides. Australia’s disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and composed batting stood in stark contrast to England’s repeated lapses in judgment.

England faltered with:

• Reckless batting choices
• Erratic bowling lengths
• Multiple dropped catches
• Poor shot selection under pressure

The result left the touring side searching for answers as criticism poured in from former cricketers and analysts.

Boycott blasts England: “They talk the talk but can’t walk the walk”

Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Geoffrey Boycott did not hold back while assessing England’s woes. He described the team’s performance in Brisbane as nothing short of a “horror show.”
“Brisbane was a horror show: irresponsible batting, bowling too short, too wide or too full, and catches dropped. This Australian team was there to be beaten, but somehow, after just six days of Ashes cricket, England need a miracle,” wrote Boycott.

He further questioned England’s pre-series buildup, where captain Ben Stokes insisted the team had been planning for this Ashes tour for four years.
“Ben Stokes said England had a blueprint. They had been planning this tour for four years and know what they are doing. What a load of bulls—. We can’t believe anything Ben or his team say.”

“They couldn’t win an egg cup” — Boycott continues his criticism

Boycott’s criticism went beyond tactics. He accused the England squad of arrogance and complacency, suggesting that the so-called “Bazball revolution” has led to overconfidence rather than consistent performance.
“England talk the talk but can’t walk the walk. With this sort of batting and bowling, they couldn’t win an egg cup, let alone the Ashes urn,” he lashed out.

“Nobody tells them off” — Boycott on Stokes’ leadership

The former England opener also questioned Ben Stokes’ captaincy, stating that the players operate without accountability, which explains repeated batting failures.
“One of the problems with this squad is it appears nobody tells them off or sits them down and discusses what they could or should have done differently. All we ever hear from the captain is attack, and from the coach, keep the faith.”

He added that England’s players have been deluded into thinking only their approach suits modern Test cricket.
“They are up their own backsides convinced that Test cricket has changed so much that only they know anything about the modern game.”

Where does England go from here?

With Australia holding the momentum and England’s confidence clearly shaken, the visitors face an uphill battle in the remaining Tests. A 2–0 deficit in Australia has historically been extremely difficult—almost impossible—to reverse.

England now need:

• Major tactical adjustments
• Better discipline with ball and bat
• Stronger leadership choices
• A more balanced approach to “Bazball,” blending aggression with strategy

The third Test will now be a crucial turning point—either England revive their Ashes hopes or suffer another chapter in Australia’s long-standing dominance at home.