Punjab Kings will participate in the 17th season of the IPL, hoping to shed their tag of perennial underachievers. Here is an in-depth preview of PBKS ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, including their strengths, weaknesses, purse remaining, players to target and more.
The Punjab-based franchise entered the IPL in 2008 as Kings XI Punjab and finished its first season as one of the semi-finalists. Since then, they have been largely inconsistent, failing to qualify for the playoffs aside from a runner-up finish in 2014.
Ahead of the 2021 tournament, they changed their name to Punjab Kings, but this revamp is expected to turn things around as they finished 6th in the points table in 2021 and 2022, and 8th last year. I couldn’t do it.
In the pre-auction vault of 2024, they trusted their core, as opposed to their history of constant hacking and modification.
Punjab Kings IPL 2024 auction preview: Trades, full squad, purse & slots remaining
Trades
Punjab Kings have not made any changes in their players so far for IPL 2024.
Players released
Baltej Singh、Bhanuka Rajapaksa、Mohit Rathee、Raj Angad Bawa、Shah Rukh Khan、Matthew Short、Gurnoor Brar。
Squad before auction
Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Atharva Taide, Harpreet Singh, Shivam Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Vidwath Kaverappa, Liam Livingstone, Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza ., Jitesh Sharma, Prabhushiran Singh.
Purse remaining (in INR)
29.1 crore
Slots remaining
8(2 overseas)
PBKS IPL 2024 auction preview: Strengths
Strong opening combination
The experienced Shikhar Dhawan and the explosive Jonny Bairstow form a formidable opening pair. Dhawan finished last season as PBKS’ top scorer, scoring 373 runs at an average of 41.44 and a strike rate of 143, but Bairstow was sidelined due to a freak foot injury. However, he scored his 1291 runs at an average of 35.86 in his career and scored his 143 runs in his 39 matches, including one century and his 9th century, and was delighted with the faith placed in him. You can answer this.
Kagiso Rabada as pace-bowling spearhead
A passionate pacer, Rabada will be heading into this year’s IPL on the back of his good performance with South Africa in the World Cup. Although he had a lackluster season in 2023, in his first appearance with the team in 2022, he earned 23 scalps in 13 games, scoring 17.65 points and 8.45 economy points. Rabada’s salvation will also pave the way for Punjab’s salvation.
Punjab Kings IPL 2024 auction preview: Weaknesses
Indian bowling contingent thin on experience
In 2023, PBKS lamented the poor form of their main spinner Rahul Chahar, who managed just eight wickets in 14 matches. Sikandar Raza, Harpreet Brar and Liam Livingstone struggled to cover up their actions. Barring Arshdeep Singh, they have failed their domestic pace weapons.
Poor form of marquee signings Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone
Curran and Livingstone have endured a difficult period with England’s disastrous defeat in the 2023 World Cup and their first ODI series defeat in the West Indies since 2007, during which they performed badly. was dropping.
Curran, the most expensive player in IPL history, managed just 10 wickets in 14 matches with an economy of 10 wickets or more, in addition to a batting average of 276 with just 50 runs, which affected crucial matches. Ta. Livingstone had strong performances at times, scoring two fifties for a total of 279 runs, making him the second-highest scorer for the second consecutive year. Punjab Kings are on thin ice. They have retained their key players for the 2024 auction and hope to catch up again.
PBKS IPL 2024 auction preview: Potential first XI
PBKS must resolve the lost links in the auction and produce a formidable XI.
Punjab Kings IPL 2024 auction preview: Players to target
Experienced spinner: Punjab Kings’ main task at the auction table is to find an experienced spinner and they have made this their challenge this year. The demand could mean they have to spend huge amounts of money to sign Wanindu Hasaranga, a crafty spinner with googly and lower-order batsmanship as a stock supply. If there is an active bid for Sri Lanka, their deep pockets will give them an advantage over their opponents.
India’s fast bowlers: With an impending bidding war, Punjab Kings may go all out to secure Shardul Thakur to strengthen their fast artillery. Because he has a partnership that allows Gabe to overcome his offensive power as well. Low-ranking batting record. Harshal Patel, Umesh Yadav, Kartik Tyagi and Siddharth Kaul are also local candidates who can solve their bowling woes.
Middle-order batsmen: 2023 World Cup star Rachin Ravindra is on their radar as he can be a valuable No. 3 batsman and provide the perfect foil to the key spinners. Masu. Lachin can be an insurance purchase for foreigners who already have insurance.
Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.
