Punjab Kings have signed up Mitch Owen as replacement of the injured Glenn Maxwell for the remainder of IPL 2025.
Maxwell missed Punjab’s game against the Chennai Super Kings on April 30. At the toss, Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer confirmed that Maxwell was recovering from a fracturing finger. He was subsequently ruled out for the rest of IPL 2025.
Punjab have now replaced him with uncapped all-rounder Owen, who plays domestic cricket for Tasmania and rose to stardom with a 39-ball ton in the 2024/25 BBL final, for INR 3 crore.
Across 34 T20s, Owen has scored 646 runs at a strike rate of 185. In all T20 cricket, no one has more runs than Owen at a better strike rate. He also bowls some medium-pace.
Corbin Bosch redux? Perhaps not
Owen is currently playing for the Peshawar Zalmi in the ongoing edition of the PSL. From seven games for them, he has made 101 runs at a strike rate of 198 (albeit at an average of 16.83) to go with a couple of wickets. Currently fifth in the points table, PZ may still make it to the playoffs, but they also may not.
PZ have three games left in the league stage – against Multan Sultans on May 5, against Karachi Kings on May 8, and against Lahore Qalandars on May 9. The Playoffs will be played on May 13, 14, 16, and 18.
PBKS, on the other hand, have league games scheduled on May 4 (against Lucknow Super Giants), 8 (Delhi Capitals), 11 (Mumbai Indians), and 16 (Rajasthan Royals). The IPL Playoffs are on May 20, 21, 23, and 25.
ESPNCricinfo report that Owen will join Punjab after the conclusion of PZ's PSL 2025 season. This means, if PZ do not make the PSL Playoffs, Owen may be available for Punjab's last two league matches, as well as the IPL playoffs. If PZ do qualify, Owen will only be available for the IPL Playoffs (naturally, provided Punjab qualify).
Corbin Bosch was the previous PSL-contracted player to sign a deal with an IPL franchise. When Lizaad Williams was injured ahead of IPL 2025, the Mumbai Indians signed up Bosch as replacement. To accept the offer, Bosch had to let go of his PSL contract – also for PZ – and cop a one-year ban from the league.
If the current reports are accurate, Owen should be able to avoid such a situation.
