In the vanguard of the most awaited 2025 IPL season, former Sunrisers Hyderabad coach and cricket analyst Tom Moody has agitated analysis with his courageous take on the retention plans for the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Moody lately communicated his views on Star Sports, suggesting that PBKS should opt for an absolute recondition, especially resisting from retaining any capped players. As stated by Moody, the franchise has fought to initiate a stable, continuous lineup and would profit from a new approaching the 2025 season.
Tom Moody pointed that PBKS might attain an aggressive edge by magnifying the use of the Right To Match (RTM) cards along with the auction, chiefly for players with endurance to perform under pressure, such as Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran and Kagiso Rabada. Moody noted these players as PBKS’s most promising assets, with the skill and grit needed to elevate the team’s chances in league.
Two Uncapped Retention For PBKS – Tom Moody
While proposing a renewal, Moody also pointed out the importance of a few uncapped players who could provide stability to the team if done up early. Referring to Shashank Singh, an impactful middle-order hitter who influenced last season, and Harpreet Brar, an all-rounder left arm spinner, Moody highlighted their capability to hand out to the team. With PBKS having fought to find consistency in earlier IPL season, Moody advocated signals a call for strategic reshuffling.
“For Punjab Kings, I don’t think I would retain any players, certainly not capped players, but I’d be looking to use the Right To Match option for players like Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, and Rabada. Jitesh Sharma is another one I’d consider using the Right To Match for in the auction,”
“When it comes to uncapped players, there are a couple of good players I’d like to secure before the auction: Shashank Singh, who is a solid middle-order power-hitter and had a great season last year, and Harpreet Brar, the left-arm spinner,”
With IPL revised retention rules, every franchise can lock up to six players from its recent squad, indulging a maximum of five capped and two uncapped players through direct retention or the Right to Match (RTM) option. Given Shashank Singh’s impressive 354 runs in IPL 2024, with an average of 44.25 and a striking rate of 164.65, he catches the eye as an important player in the middle order. Meantime Harpreet Brar’s consonant bowling, acquiring 7 wickets in 13 matches at an economy under eight, inhibits value to Punjab’s spin assault. Moody’s suggestion for PBKS to priorities on these uncapped players signifies the need of the planned retention.