Sun Apr 27 18:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Punjab Kings’ IPL Title Hopes Doubted Despite Strong Season Start

**Kolkata, India** – Despite a strong start to the IPL 2025 season, placing them in the top four, Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) chances of winning their maiden title are being questioned. Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has predicted that PBKS will not win the tournament, criticizing head coach Ricky Ponting’s team selection strategy.

Tiwary’s criticism stems from PBKS’s rain-affected no-result match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday. He argued that Ponting prioritized struggling Australian players, Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen, and Josh Inglis, over in-form Indian players Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh in crucial batting positions. Tiwary highlighted the omission of Wadhera at number four and Singh as a finisher as particularly questionable decisions.

“The coach didn’t send Indian inform batters Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh; instead, he trusted his foreign players to deliver, but they couldn’t,” Tiwary tweeted. He believes this lack of faith in Indian players will ultimately prevent PBKS from winning the IPL, regardless of their playoff qualification.

Despite the setback and the criticism, PBKS remains in a strong position, holding a 5-3 win-loss record after nine matches. Their next match is against Chennai Super Kings on April 30th.

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