Australia all-rounder and Punjab Kings’ new recruit Marcus Stoinis has expressed his desire to play T20 cricket for as long as possible, drawing inspiration from the likes of MS Dhoni and Faf du Plessis. The 35-year-old Marcus Stoinis retired from one-day internationals before the Champions Trophy to prioritise T20 cricket. Not being part of Australia’s Test plans, Marcus Stoinis is focused on carving out a career as a T20 globetrotter.
Having secured a Rs 11 crore contract with Punjab Kings for IPL 2025, Marcus Stoinis is determined to give his best for his new franchise. He will team up with Ricky Ponting, who has been appointed as the head coach, as Punjab Kings look to hit the reset button.
Marcus Stoinis hoping to follow MS Dhoni blueprint in T20 cricket
Making his return to the Punjab Kings, the Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis takes inspiration from the likes of Faf du Plessis and MS Dhoni to help keep himself in good condition for a long career in the shortest format. Marcus Stoinis took the decision to retire from ODIs prior to the Champions Trophy which came as a shock but the all-rounder remains intent on focusing on the T20 setup to ensure that he can keep performing at a high level for a longer period of time.
“Yeah, absolutely. I still am going to be available to play international cricket for Australia in the T20 format. It was just a decision to step away from one-day cricket, which, look, with the one-day World Cup still quite a distance away (2027),” said Stoinis when asked if he has made peace with his decision in an interview with PTI.
“I’m a competitor and I want to be playing for as long as I can. And I think that decision allows me to have more longevity and play rather than trying to squeeze everything into my calendar,” he added.
Marcus Stoinis backs himself to be at his very best when playing in the T20 setup but he also wants to ensure that his physical health is also kept in check just like a du Plessis or Dhoni who continue performing despite being over 40 years in age. Faf du Plessis last played for South Africa in December 2020 and has since become a T20 freelancer, playing franchise-based cricket worldwide. MS Dhoni, at 43, continues to be a vital member of the Chennai Super Kings line-up, extending his IPL career against the odds.
Marcus Stoinis is available for Australia in T20Is
Stoinis confirmed his availability for T20 internationals with Australia, explaining that his decision to retire from ODIs was influenced by the timing of the next 50-over World Cup, which is still two years away. He announced his ODI retirement just days before the Champions Trophy, despite having been selected in Australia’s squad for the tournament in Pakistan and Dubai.
“T20 is my bread and butter…That’s where my skills are best performed,” added the all-rounder who returns to Punjab Kings after almost a decade,” he shared.
“I really enjoy the cricket side of things, but I also enjoy the lifestyle of being healthy, being ready to go. Someone like Faf Du Plessis, you see him at 40. He’s in as good a shape as ever,” he added.
“His energy is high as ever. I mean, that’s a nice blueprint for me, I think. And we’re probably pretty similar like that. So, that’s where I see my career. We’re in a great era to be able to play longer. Even guys like MS…(in) especially T20 that we thought maybe in the past was a young person’s game. It’s shown that the experience, the calm head, all that sort of stuff,” he concluded.
Marcus Stoinis will be in action when Punjab Kings take on Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2025 opener in Ahmedabad on 25th March.
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