The Punjab Kings surprisingly retained the core team that played last season despite having yet another low finish. From strengthening their bowling department by buying the duo of Harshal Patel and Chris Woakes to adding experience to their batting unit with the purchase of Rilee Rossouw, PBKS made some strategic decisions with the huge sum of money they had at the auction.
We will look at the possible playing XI for PBKS with the squad they had built post the IPL 2024 auction.
Punjab Kings Full Squad for IPL 2024
PBKS squad: 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.
PBKS Probable Playing XI for IPL 2024
Openers: Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow missed the 2023 season, and it had a huge impact on PBKS’s chances as there was no experience at the top when skipper Shikhar Dhawan had to miss a few games due to injury. But with the Englishman back in the team for the coming season, it bodes well for PBKS, as he and Dhawan have the potential to be one of the best opening pairs in the competition.
Also Read | Shikhar Dhawan IPL Runs – Year by Year
Middle-order: Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma
Prabhsimran Singh was a shining light for the PBKS with the bat last season, scoring a century, but at the same time, he was a tad inconsistent. However, with experienced batters above him now, he can play a lot more freely alongside the dangerous Liam Livingstone, who can snatch the game away from the opposition in the blink of an eye, and India’s newest wicketkeeper batter, Jitesh Sharma. The latter has had a decent start to his IPL career and will bolster the middle order.
All-rounders: Harshal Patel, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar
Sam Curran was the hottest pick by PBKS last season, but he had a disappointing IPL 2023 as a bowler, and the team will hope for better results from him. He will be joined by PBKS’ newest recruit, Harshal Patel, who has excelled as a death bowler in the past in the IPL. Harpreet Brar gives PBKS the option of a left-arm spin alongside his usefulness with the bat.
Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Rahul Chahaar is most likely to be the Punjab Kings’ frontline spinner, despite a below-par season last time around where he picked only 8 wickets. Experienced campaigners Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh will take on the mantle of leading the pace attack and hope for better results in the coming season.
Twelfth Man/Impact Player: Atharva Taide
Atharava Taide was another youngster who impressed with the limited opportunities he got in the last season, where he scored 186 in 7 innings at a strike rate of over 144 coming in the middle order. Expect him to be part of the playing XI, either as an impact player or as a batter who starts, depending on the context of the game.
PBKS’s Probable Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Harshal Patel, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
