After ending on the sixth place within the factors desk final season, Punjab Kings are all set to start their marketing campaign for the upcoming version of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 towards Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday. Led by the veteran opening batter Shikhar Dhawan, the Kings shall be guided by World Cup successful coach Trevor Bayliss, as they eye their maiden IPL title. During the auctions, PBKS purchased England all-rounder Sam Curran for a whopping complete of Rs 18.50 crore and made him the most costly purchase in IPL historical past.
The different gamers they purchased had been Sikandar Raza (Rs 50 lakh), Harpreet Bhatia (Rs 40 lakh), Vidwath Kaverappa (Rs 20 lakh), Mohit Rathee (Rs 20 lakh) and Shivam Singh (Rs 20 lakh).
Inconsistency has damage Punjab badly over time and Bayliss should discover a approach to optimise the efficiency of a squad that appears formidable on paper. Punjab completed sixth previously 4 seasons and reached their solely remaining in 2014.
However, Punjab have suffered a blow even earlier than the beginning of the season as their aggressive wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow has been dominated out as a result of a decrease limb harm. Uncapped Australia batter Matthew Short, who had an distinctive outing within the final version of Big Bash League, has been named as his alternative.
Punjab have loads of firepower within the batting unit regardless of the absence of Bairstow. The presence of Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Curran, Short, who impressed within the newest Big Bash version, make them a pressure to be reckoned with.
Curran, participant of the 2022 T20 World Cup, is anticipated to play each recreation and contribute in each the departments.
However, the crew must finalise Dhawan’s opening companion in Bairstow’s absence. Sacked skipper Mayank Agarwal had pushed him down the order to accommodate Bairstow on the high final yr.
PBKS IPL 2023 Schedule:
Match 1: April 1 – Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Mohali (3:30PM IST)
Match 2: April 5 – Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings, Guwahati (7:30PM IST)
Match 3: April 9 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings, Hyderabad (7:30PM IST)
Match 4: April 13 – Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans, Mohali (7:30PM IST)
Match 5: April 15 – Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings, Lucknow (7:30PM IST)
Match 6: April 20 – Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mohali (3:30PM IST)
Match 7: April 22 – Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings, Mumbai (7:30PM IST)
Match 8: April 28 – Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants, Mohali (7:30PM IST)
Match 9: April 30 – Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, Chennai (3:30PM IST)
Match 10: May 3 – Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians, Mohali (7:30PM IST)
Match 11: May 8 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, Kolkata (7:30PM IST)
Match 12: May 13 – Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings, Delhi (7:30PM IST)
Match 13: May 17 – Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Dharamsala (7:30PM IST)
Match 14: May 19 – Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, Dharamsala (7:30PM IST)
Strongest XI:
Shikhar Dhawan, Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh
Punjab Kings Full Squad:
Players purchased at IPL public sale – Shivam Singh (INR 20 lakh), Mohit Rathee (INR 20 lakh), Vidwath Kaverappa (INR 20 lakh), Harpreet Bhatia (INR 40 lakh), Sikandar Raza (INR 50 lakh), Sam Curran (INR 18.5 crore), Matthew Short (INR 20 lakh)
Players retained – Shikhar Dhawan (c), Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Baltej Singh, Nathan Ellis, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar.
With PTI Inputs
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