Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen has replaced Glenn Maxwell at the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Owen is currently playing for the Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025. He is expected to join PBKS after fulfilling his commitments in the PSL.
The Zalmi will play their last league match against Karachi Kings on Thursday, May 8 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Given that Zalmi are placed fifth with a net run rate of -0.507, chances of them qualifying for the playoffs are remote. Hence, Owen could get free of his PSL duties in the next four days before joining PBKS in the IPL.
Earlier, Maxwell was ruled out after fracturing his finger during a training session before Punjab’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He scored only 48 runs in seven matches at an average of eight and a strike-rate of 97.95. Owen will join the Punjab-based franchise for Rs 3 crore.
Owen came to the limelight back in January when he hit the joint-fastest hundred in the history of the Big Bash League (BBL) off 39 balls. Playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the final against David Warner’s Sydney Thunder at the Bellerive Oval, Owen scored 108 off 42 balls with six fours and 11 sixes.
On the back of his knock, the Hurricanes chased down 183 with 35 balls to spare and won the BBL title for the first time. Owen was also the top run-scorer of the BBL last season, racking up 452 runs from 11 innings at an average of 45.20.
As far as the Kings are concerned, they are in the race to make their way through the playoffs. Currently placed fourth with 13 points and a net run rate of +0.199, PBKS will next be up against the Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday, May 4 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
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