The IPL is no stranger to drama, and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) just added another twist to their 2025 campaign. With Glenn Maxwell ruled out due to a broken finger, PBKS have handed the baton to a relatively unknown but explosive Australian all-rounder — Mitchell Owen. The 23-year-old Tasmanian dynamo has been making waves in T20 leagues around the world, and now he’s about to light up the biggest T20 stage of them all.
Who is Mitchell Owen?
Born in Tasmania, Owen’s cricket journey began with grit, grind, and a ton of raw talent. A product of the Tasmanian cricketing system, he’s been quietly building a solid foundation — both as a batter and a handy medium pacer.
While Owen debuted in the Big Bash League (BBL) back in 2021, his real breakout came during the 2024 season with the Hobart Hurricanes. In the final of BBL 14, he pulled off what can only be described as a cricketing spectacle — a 39-ball century. That knock of 108 off 42 balls, including 11 sixes and 6 fours, helped the Hurricanes pull off a stunning chase, sealing the title and etching his name into BBL history books.
In 11 matches, he amassed 452 runs at an impressive average of 45.20 and a blistering strike rate of 203.60. With two centuries and three 50+ scores, he was simply unstoppable, playing a crucial role in anchoring the Hurricanes’ title-winning campaign while scoring at an electrifying pace.
He’s an aggressive top-order batter who loves to take on bowlers from ball one. Whether he opens or comes in at No. 4, Owen has the skills to change a game within a handful of deliveries. With 10 wickets in 20 T20 innings, Owen’s medium pace gives PBKS another seam option — a priceless asset in Indian conditions where variation is key.
UPDATE: Mitchell Owen replaces Glenn Maxwell for the rest of #TATAIPL 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/yX7Z8uamMt
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 4, 2025
Ricky Ponting’s Role in Owen’s Rise
PBKS’s head coach Ricky Ponting also happens to be the head of strategy for Hobart Hurricanes. Ponting has been watching Owen closely for years. And when Maxwell went down, Ponting wasted no time in bringing in a player he trusts — someone he knows can deliver under pressure.
“There are not many players in the world who can do that,” Ponting had said after Owen’s BBL final heroics.
Owen’s Global T20 Experience
In 2025 alone, Owen has already played in SA20 and the PSL, rubbing shoulders with top international stars. Mitchell Owen joined Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL as a replacement for Corbin Bosch, who had initially signed with the team but later withdrew to join Mumbai Indians (MI) as a substitute for the injured Lizaad Williams. Bosch’s last-minute decision led to legal consequences, as the PCB issued a legal notice and handed him a one-year ban from the competition.
Reflecting on the situation, Bosch expressed regret over his withdrawal, stating, “I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the PSL and offer my sincere apologies to the people of Pakistan, the fans of Peshawar Zalmi, and the wider cricket community.” Despite the controversy, Bosch went on to play two matches for MI in IPL 2025.
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