The Punjab Kings haven’t always been good at consistency and continuity, but this season might be different. Even while PBKS appears to be well-established on paper, adjusting to changing circumstances will provide a problem. They strengthened the one obvious weakness—in the seam bowling department—by going all-out in the mini auction to bring in Harshal Patel, while keeping their core, captain, and backroom crew. With a wealth of variations and the ability to bowl in all three stages of the innings, he brings a solid track record from the IPL. In addition to the seasoned Kagiso Rabada and the left-arm combination of Sam Curran and Arshdeep Singh, Patel gives PBKS an outstanding bowling lineup.
Since a lot of batting depends on the kind of season they can have with the bat, Punjab’s chances will be greatly aided by the English combination of Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, and Curran. Punjab also placed a high bid for Chris Woakes and Rilee Rossouw, although both players will probably be backups. Indian resources may be scarce for middle-order batting, but there will be plenty of quality in the bowling department, particularly for spin.
The last time Punjab qualified for the IPL playoffs was ten years ago. Since then, a lot has been chopped and altered. It is hoped that a new home, some kind of continuity, and these factors will act as spurs to end the run.
Location of their completion for this cycle: 2022 – 6th, 2023 – 8th
Important additions: Chris Woakes (INR 4.2 crore), Rilee Rossouw (INR 8 crore), and Harshal Patel (INR 11.75 crore).
Shahrukh Khan, Raj Bawa, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa are the main departures.
Entire Squad:
Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jitesh Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Matthew Short, Sam Curran, Harpreet Bhatia, Atharva Taide, Rishi Dhawan, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Gurnoor Brar, Vidwath Kaverappa, Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Shashank Singh, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Tanay Thyagarajann, Prince Choudhary, Rilee Rossouw
One statistic from the previous year that they should fix
Punajb’s bowlers had the lowest average of 36.07 and took the second fewest wickets (70) in the 2023 IPL. They had the second-to-last strike rate (23.3) and economy rate (9.30) for the season. They were atrocious in the middle overs (30 wickets) and with the new ball (15 wickets). Among all 10 teams in 2023, Punjab’s total of 45 wickets in the first 15 overs of an innings was the lowest.
Be careful with Jitesh Sharma.
The batsman who doubles as a wicketkeeper gained notoriety for his forceful hitting and early ball strike. In his second season in the league, the Indian Premier League 2023, he showed progress overall as the finisher. Jitesh has now made his debut for India in the shortest format; nevertheless, his hopes of playing in his first World Cup rest on an effective IPL 2024. In the middle of all of this, KL Rahul’s injury history, Rishabh Pant’s recent miraculous recovery from a deadly tragedy, and a strong bat season might propel him up the rankings and into a finisher/keeper role for the World Cup XV.
Accidents and accessibility:
With no injuries and no late additions to the team, PBKS does start the season with a full squad. But if they advance to the playoffs, which are expected to take place in the second-to-last week of May, the English team may not be able to compete because of their international obligations. Commencing on May 22, England will play four Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against Pakistan at home. This coincides with the 2024 IPL elimination round.
Potential Impact Player strategy and possible XI:
Nathan Ellis/Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran/Sikandar Raza, Harshal Patel, Harpreet Brar, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, and Shikhar Dhawan (c).
Depending on the toss and the conditions, Rishi Dhawan and Atharva Taide could be the two frontline Impact Sub possibilities.
