The Punjab Kings, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, have announced a change in leadership for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Mayank Agarwal, who took over the captaincy from KL Rahul midway through the previous season, has been replaced by left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan.
Dhawan, who was traded to the Punjab franchise from the Delhi Capitals ahead of the auction, brings with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the IPL.
Shikhar Dhawan has played 206 matches to date in his IPL career and has scored 6244 runs, with an average of 35.08. He has also slammed 2 centuries and 47 half-centuries, with his highest IPL score being 106* runs. with these stats he becomes one of the most consistent performers in the league’s history.
Punjab Kings In IPL 2022 Season:
The Punjab Kings finished at sixth place with a record of seven wins and seven losses in the last season.
PBKS Squad For 2023 IPL:
PBKS Final Squad for IPL 2023: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Shahrukh Khan, Matthew Short, Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Baltej Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Sam Curran, Sikanadar Raza, Harpreet Bhatia, Vidwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, and Mohit Rathe.
Punjab Kings Revamp Team Ahead of 2023 IPL Season: New Captain, High-Profile Signings, and Overhauled Coaching Staff
The Punjab Kings have made significant changes ahead of the 2023 IPL season. Shikhar Dhawan has been named the new team captain, replacing Mayank Agarwal. The Kings had a large budget for the 2023 auction, and they spent a substantial amount of money on Sam Curran, who became the most expensive purchase in IPL auction history. Additionally, they acquired Sikandar Raza as a backup for Liam Livingstone. The team’s coaching staff has also been completely revamped, with Trevor Bayliss taking over as head coach, and Wasim Jaffer, Sunil Joshi, Charl Langeveldt, and Brad Haddin all joining as coaches.
PBKS Dealt Blow as Jonny Bairstow Ruled Out of IPL 2023 Due to Injury:
Punjab Kings’ squad for IPL 2023 has been affected by the unavailability of Jonny Bairstow, who is still recovering from a leg injury he sustained in September 2022 while playing golf. This comes as a significant blow to the team’s plans for the tournament. In his absence, the Kings have named Matthew Short, an Australian all-rounder who was named Player of the Tournament in BBL 2022-23, as his replacement.
Kagiso Rabada to Miss PBKS’ Opening Match in IPL 2023:
Kagiso Rabada, the South African fast bowler, will not be available for the Punjab Kings’ opening match against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 1 in Mohali. He is scheduled to join the squad on April 3, following the conclusion of South Africa’s ODI series against the Netherlands. This means that the Kings will be without Rabada for at least their first game of the tournament.
Strong and Weak Zone of PBKS, IPL 2023:
Punjab Kings have a strong pace bowling duo in Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada, but they lack quality spinners. Rahul Chahar is expected to lead the spin department, and Sikandar Raza can offer backup, but it’s uncertain if he will be a first-choice player. Despite this, the Kings left the IPL 2023 auction with a squad of 22 players and INR 12.20 crore in hand, indicating their satisfaction with their activities.
Last season, Liam Livingstone and Bhanuka Rajapaksa impressed with their performances, while Raza comes in high on confidence having been part of the Lahore Qalandars team that won the PSL 2023. The Kings boast a power-packed batting unit with players like Livingstone, Prabhsimran Singh, Rajapaksa, and Jitesh Sharma, who all have impressive T20 strike rates. Moreover, Shikhar Dhawan, the new captain, has been consistent in accumulating runs quickly.
Although they have a strong batting lineup, the Kings will need to rely on their pace attack to compensate for their weak spin bowling. Kagiso Rabada, one of their most valuable players, will miss the team’s first match against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 1 as he is playing for South Africa in the ODI series against the Netherlands.
On the other side, The Punjab Kings are facing some challenges ahead of the 2023 IPL season. With Jonny Bairstow ruled out due to a leg injury, there is uncertainty about who will open the batting alongside Shikhar Dhawan. While Matthew Short has been named as his replacement, he has never played in the IPL, which could be a concern. The team may also look to Prabhsimran or Rajapaksa as potential opening partners for Dhawan. Additionally, Liam Livingstone’s lack of game time due to a knee injury is also a worry, and he may be rusty in the first game. Another issue is the absence of a prominent second spinner to back up Rahul Chahar, which could hurt them in spin-friendly conditions. While they have Harpreet Brar as an option, he has been inconsistent in previous seasons.
Schedule insights For Punjab Kings, IPL 2023:
The Punjab Kings will be playing their matches across various venues throughout the IPL 2023 season, without having back-to-back home games until their final two league matches on May 17 and 19, which will take place in Dharamsala. This could potentially lead to exhaustion among the players due to the frequent travelling.