After a forgettable outing against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have received a significant boost ahead of their upcoming match against Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 13th. English all-rounder Liam Livingstone has joined the squad, and he is eager to make a mark in the IPL 2023. Known for his ability to hit big shots and break partnerships, Livingstone is expected to strengthen PBKS’s middle order, which has been quite fragile.
PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan, who is currently the orange cap holder with 225 runs in three matches, has been in sublime form. However, he has lacked support from the rest of the batters, and the team suffered a defeat in their last match. Therefore, the inclusion of Livingstone can do wonders for PBKS as they look to get back on track.
Meanwhile, GT will be hoping to bounce back after their heart-wrenching defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders. It will be interesting to see if Hardik Pandya leads the side after missing the last match due to illness. GT’s stand-in skipper Rashid Khan took a hat-trick in the thriller against KKR, and they might bring another spinner in the form of Sai Kishore to frustrate the batters with variations.
Both teams will be looking to put up a better show in this upcoming match. For PBKS, the skipper Shikhar Dhawan will likely have to bat throughout the innings, but it’s quite risky. The likes of dashing all-rounder Sam Curran needs to bat a bit more responsibly in the middle overs. On the other hand, GT will hope for their batters to accelerate in the middle overs and build partnerships.
Also Read: Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans Head-to-Head Record in IPL History
With Liam Livingstone now in the mix, PBKS has a stronger squad and the potential to turn things around. It will be interesting to see how the match plays out as both teams aim for victory.