Punjab Kings Journey from an average team to a strong contender

Since then, they have failed to make it even to the Top 4 of the league. However, the team looks completely different under new captain Mayank Agarwal and is one of the strong contenders to win the IPL this year. 

Where it all started: 

Sensible purchases at IPL auction 2022

In the IPL 2022 mega auction, Punjab Kings were one of the franchises that made some exciting purchases. PBKS made 23 purchases at the two-day auction in Bengaluru. They picked opener, Shikhar Dhawan for INR 8.5 crore, South African pacer Kagiso Rabada for INR 9.25 crore, England limited-overs specialist Jonny Bairstow for INR 6.75 crore, and West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith for INR 6.75 crore. Their most expensive purchase came in the form of Liam Livingstone for INR 11.50 crore.

The 2014 finalists have rebuilt their roster in the hopes of winning their first IPL title. Punjab, who has failed to make the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons, is looking strong this season as they have won 2 of their four matches. Their last defeat against Gujarat Titans was a nail biter as Punjab Kings were winning the game until the last ball. But an unbelievable cameo by Rahul Tewatia turned the game in Gujarat’s favor.

They are looking very balanced this season, and it won’t be much of a surprise if we get to see them playing the final this year. They have depth in both bowling and batting this year, and everyone from the team is playing their best cricket, trying to leave no stone unturned.

The team with the most power hitters:

The Punjab Kings offer perhaps the most satisfactory batting squad in the league, with big-hitters like Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, Odean Smith, Mayank Agarwal, and Shahrukh Khan.

The top order provides Punjab Kings exceptional starts, and the middle order is making the most of the foundation laid by the openers. While the team has many good players in the middle order, the responsibility of the middle order is being handled by Liam Livingston, and he has been exceptional with his bat. He is anchoring the inning very well and has shown some unbelievable hitting this season.

Bowling Department better than in previous years:

With the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Rahul Chahar joining the franchise, the team’s bowling has improved a lot compared to preceding years. 

They are making full use of their experience, and their best was seen against Chennai Super Kings when they bowled out CSK for 126 while defending a total of 181. Along with Kagiso Rabada and Rahul Chahar, Liam Livingstone also contributes decently well with the ball. 

Good captaincy:

The squad is giving the captain many bowling options to choose from as they have two all-rounders, and Mayank is making the most of it. His captaincy this season has been up to the mark, and we can expect it to get even better with time. 

We can see Mayank Agarwal backing his teammates a lot. For instance, when Rahul Tewatia hit two ball sixes to Odean Smith, he was mature enough to go near him and handled the bowler calmly and sensibly. This type of support from the captain provides players with the confidence they need and encourages them to stay positive. 

Overall, the team has many positives to take from now on this season, and they would be looking forward to getting their maiden IPL title.