Mitchell Owen Joins Punjab Kings as Replacement for Glenn Maxwell
Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen is set to step in for Glenn Maxwell at the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. Currently, Owen is with the Peshawar Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025. He will join PBKS once his PSL commitments are completed.
Peshawar Zalmi is gearing up for their final league match against Lahore Qalandars on Friday, May 9, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Although they sit fifth in the standings with a net run rate of -0.507, they still have a shot at the playoffs, with the final scheduled for May 18.
If Zalmi makes a deep run and reaches the final, Owen could only join PBKS if they qualify for the playoffs as well. So far, there hasn’t been any official announcement from the IPL or PBKS regarding his arrival date.
Maxwell’s exit comes after he fractured his finger during a training session just before Punjab’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Kolkata. In the seven matches he played, Maxwell scored just 48 runs, averaging eight with a strike rate of 97.95. Owen is reported to join the Kings for a fee of ₹3 crore.
Owen made headlines in January when he equaled the record for the fastest hundred in Big Bash League (BBL) history, achieving this in only 39 balls. Playing for Hobart Hurricanes in the final against Sydney Thunder, Owen scored 108 runs off 42 balls, helping the Hurricanes secure their first BBL title by chasing down a target of 183 with 35 balls to spare. He finished the previous BBL season as the top run-scorer, accumulating 452 runs in 11 innings with an impressive average of 45.20.
As for the Punjab Kings, they are actively aiming for a playoff spot. Currently, they hold the fourth position with 13 points and a net run rate of +0.199. Their next challenge will be against the Lucknow Super Giants, led by Rishabh Pant, on Sunday, May 4, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
