Under the new captain of Shikhar Dhawan, Punjab Kings started their training for this year’s edition of IPL in PCA Stadium, Mohali on 25 February 2023. Punjab Kings has been clubbed with 4 times Champion Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings. PBKS will play the other teams twice before playing four teams other once. The tournament begins on 31 March and would feature their home matches in Mohali.
Punjab Kings would be looking to make an impression after they could not qualify for the playoffs in the 2022 edition of IPL. Dhawan was bought by the Punjab Kings franchise for Rs 8.25 Crore in the 2022 IPL auction. Mayank Agarwal was named the captain before releasing him this year as Punjab Kings made Shikhar Dhawan captain for this year’s IPL.
Dhawan would be hoping to lead Punjab Kings in search of their maiden title. They progressed into the finals of the 2014 edition of IPL losing to Kolkata Knight Riders. Punjab Kings released players like Mayank Agarwal, Odean Smith, Vaibhav Arora, Benny Howell, Ishan Porel, Ansh Patel, Prekark Mankad, Sandeep Sharma, Writtick Chatterjee.
Right before the auction, PBKS retained Shikhar Dhawan, Shahrukh Khan, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Athrava Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Baltej Singh, Nathan Ellis, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar.
PBKS decided to buy England-all rounder Sam Curran for Rs 18.50 Crore, Sikander Raza 50 Lakhs, Harpreet Bhatia for Rs 40 Lakhs, Vidwath Kaverrappa for 20 Lakhs, Mohit Rathee 20 Lakhs, Shivam Singh 20 Lakhs.
Under the captaincy of Shikhar Dhawan, Punjab Kings would be hoping to end their title drought since its inception in 2008.
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— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 25, 2023
Punjab King’s performance in IPL 2022
Punjab Kings made an impressive start to the tournament before losing its stem in the dying stages of the tournament. They finished at the number 6 spot with 7 wins and 7 losses. With the same number of points but a lesser run rate, they ended below Delhi Capitals.
Dhawan finished as the leading run-getter for Punjab Kings in IPL 2022. He scored 460 runs from 14 matches ( 14 innings) with 3 half-centuries to his name, the best score of 88 not out. Liam Livingstone also performed brilliantly scoring 437 runs from 14 matches ( 14 innings) with 4 half-centuries including the best score of 70.
Kagiso Rabada was the leading wicket-taker for Punjab Kings in IPL 2022. He picked up 23 wickets from 14 matches ( 14 innings) with figures of 4/33 at an economy rate of 8.45 runs per over and 2 four-wicket hauls.
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