As the cricketing world gears up for the start of the IPL on March 22, with defending champions Chennai Super Kings squaring off against Royal Challengers Bangalore, teams have been fine-tuning their strategies and rosters for the upcoming season. Among these, Punjab Kings, under the captaincy of Shikhar Dhawan, stand out for their comprehensive revamp in an attempt to clinch their first IPL title. Despite making it to the finals only once in 2014 and falling short against Kolkata Knight Riders, their journey has been marked by near misses and unfulfilled potential.
The previous season concluded on a somber note for Punjab Kings, securing a mere six victories out of fourteen matches. Notably, they have reached the playoffs only twice since the inception of the league in 2008. With the 2024 season on the horizon, the team, runners-up a decade ago, is poised to break their playoff drought, buoyed by the prospects of playing at the new Mullanpur Stadium. This shift presents an intriguing aspect of their campaign, particularly how the pitch conditions will influence their home games.
Strengths
Punjab Kings boast a formidable batting lineup, led by seasoned campaigners such as Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, and new addition Rilee Rossouw. However, it is their power hitters in Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma who could steal the limelight. The inclusion of all-rounders Sam Curran and Sikandar Raza further enhances their batting depth, offering versatility and strength to their lower-order finishing. The bowling department is spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh, with the recent addition of Harshal Patel, renowned for his cunning slower balls, rounding off a robust pace attack.
Weaknesses
PBKS face a lingering concern with their spin department. Despite relying on Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar, who collectively bagged 17 wickets in the last season, the absence of a top-tier spinner could be a vulnerability that opponents might exploit. The duo's performance will be critical in addressing this gap and transforming Punjab Kings into formidable contenders in the IPL 2024.
Probable XI:
Shikhar Dhawan (c)
Jonny Bairstow
Atharva Taide
Jonny Bairstow
Liam Livingstone
Jitesh Sharma (wk)
Sam Curran
Harshal Patel
Harpreet Brar
Kagiso Rabada
Rahul Chahar
Arshdeep Singh
Punjab Kings schedule for first leg
March 23 - Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Mullanpur - 3:30 PM
March 25 - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings, Bengaluru - 7:30 PM
March 30 - Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings, Lucknow - 7:30 PM
April 4 - Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings, Ahmedabad - 7:30 PM
Punjab Kings full squad for IPL 2024
Shikhar Dhawan (c), Matthew Short, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Sikandar Raza, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Bhatia, Vidwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Shashank Singh, Tanay Thyagarajann, Prince Choudhary, Rilee Rossouw.