When Punjab Kings picked Josh Inglis at the IPL auction, everyone raised eyebrows. With so many legendary Aussie players already snapped up, why was Ricky Ponting going after a relatively lesser-known Australian batter? And when Inglis couldn’t make much of an impression in his first two outings, the doubts only grew louder.
Cut to the next six innings, and this man transformed into a full-blown multi-utility weapon. When the team needed a momentum shift, Inglis came in like a wrecking ball. And when a calm, solid knock was needed at the top, Inglis basically said, “I got this”.
During this purple patch, he smashed 181 runs at an eye-popping average of over 45. With a strike rate nearing 165 this season, he’s been nothing short of electric. Still think picking him was a gamble? He’s lighting up matches like it’s Diwali every game day.
His blistering form even convinced skipper Shreyas Iyer to take a backseat. The captain literally said, “You take the stage, I’ll move down the order.” That’s how much faith this Aussie firecracker has inspired.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Inglis wasn’t some wild punt from the Aussie backyard scene. He’s been consistently smashing it for the Perth Scorchers in the BBL, and Ponting had his eye on him long before the IPL auction. Add to that a jaw-dropping unbeaten 120 against England in the Champions Trophy — while chasing 352, no less — and it’s clear this guy had already nailed his audition.
But there’s one catch that’s giving Punjab a bit of a headache. With Australia playing the World Test Championship final from June 11, Inglis might get called back to join the squad. And if that happens, it would be a major, major blow to Punjab Kings’ dream of finally lifting that elusive IPL trophy.
But what a journey it’s been. From “What’s he even going to do?” to “How do we even manage without him?” — Josh Inglis has become the plot twist Punjab Kings didn’t see coming, but now absolutely cannot do without.
