Marco Jansen has played a pivotal role in South Africa’s journey to their maiden ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, set to begin on June 11 at Lord’s against reigning champions Australia. Renowned for his towering height, steep bounce, and ability to generate movement, the left-arm pacer has been especially impactful throughout the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle.

IPL exit to prioritize national duty for South Africa

Though Jansen featured in only six Tests, his impact was immediate and emphatic, claiming 29 wickets at a lethal strike rate of 33.17. Among bowlers with 29 or more scalps in this WTC edition, only Jasprit Bumrah of India had a better strike rate, underscoring Jansen’s potency in red-ball cricket. Jansen’s departure from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 playoffs was one of the biggest talking points ahead of the final stages of the tournament.

With Cricket South Africa prioritizing preparation for the WTC Final, all Test-bound players were recalled before the league’s knockout phase. This included Jansen, who had been instrumental for the Punjab Kings throughout the campaign. He ended the tournament with 16 wickets in 14 matches, making him the second-highest wicket-taker for the franchise. His role in the middle and death overs was especially critical for a side that was chasing its first-ever IPL title. His absence was deeply felt in Punjab’s campaign, which narrowly fell short in the summit clash.

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Ricky Ponting’s cheeky farewell to Jansen ahead of WTC 2025 against Australia

Before he flew out to join the South African squad in London, Jansen shared a humorous yet heartfelt exchange with Ricky Ponting, the head coach of Punjab Kings. The former Australian captain, now a revered coaching figure, had a light-hearted send-off message for his rising South African star. “Before I left, he just said ‘good luck, I hope you do well, but I hope you lose,” Jansen said in an interview with ICC Digital, laughing at the competitiveness and camaraderie in the comment.

More than just a coach, Ponting served as a mentor to Jansen during IPL 2025. The young fast bowler credited Ponting for instilling a strong mental framework that helped him handle high-pressure situations. He noted how Ponting constantly emphasized potential and opportunity rather than fear or failure, a mindset shift that deeply resonated with the 25-year-old.

“I learnt a lot from him, especially from a mental point of view. He is always positive, and he always sees the good stuff instead of the bad stuff, if it makes sense. And I think that’s why he’s a legend of the game, because you always lean towards what could happen instead of what could go wrong. For me personally in the IPL, he’s helped a lot in that regard, because he always reminds you what could be, what you can do and what could happen instead of what couldn’t happen,” Jansen concluded.

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