PBKS SWOT Analysis, IPL 2024: Can Punjab Kings Lift Their Maiden Trophy?

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are gearing up for the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season below the management of Shikhar Dhawan. Punjab will look to finish their seek for the elusive IPL trophy after spending Rs 24.95 crores on the mini-auction in Dubai final 12 months. In the earlier season, Punjab Kings completed eighth on the factors desk, profitable six matches and struggling eight losses. They have not made the IPL playoffs since 2014 and it’s one thing PBKS will look to make proper within the upcoming marketing campaign.

PBKS will enter the 2024 season with a mixture of anticipation and scrutiny. After a high-spending mini-auction in December 2023, PBKS purchased Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Rilee Rossouw, Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Shashank Singh, Tanay Thyagarajann and Prince Choudhary.

England’s top-order batter Jonny Bairstow will even be up for choice after being dominated out as a consequence of a freak damage final 12 months.

With the discharge of this 12 months’s schedule by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), PBKS will face Delhi Capitals (DC) of their event opener at Punjab Cricket Association New Stadium, Mullanpur on March 23.

As Punjab Kings put together for the upcoming IPL season, we check out their strengths, weaknesses, alternatives, and threats.

Strength

PBKS have a star-studded batting lineup with top-order batters like Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Roussow of their ranks. They even have all-round firepower in Liam Livingstone, Sikandar Raza and Sam Curran at their disposal.

Jitesh Sharma’s performances in latest seasons for PBKS additionally showcase his sturdy ending capabilities the place he can take any bowler to the cleaners on his day.

Apart from a robust batting lineup, Punjab boast a high quality tempo assault. The addition of Harshal Patel to their highly effective bowling arsenal of Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh and Sam Curran provides them loads of selection so far as their tempo battery is anxious. The Shers even have Chris Woakes, who’s able to taking wickets with the brand new ball.

Weakness

In a contest the place spinners play a pivotal position in steering their staff to victory, Punjab Kings appear to have restricted choices on this division.

With solely Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar amongst their outstanding spinners, PBKS aren’t precisely spoilt for alternative in relation to frontline spinners. The duo managed to take 17 wickets within the IPL 2023 collectively and will probably be hoping to supply higher returns in 2024.

Punjab do have a few part-time spin choices in Livingstone and Raza however their financial system charges of 13.4 and 9.9, respectively, exhibit why these choices can’t be relied upon.

Opportunities

With Bairstow returning this season, Punjab’s top-order will need the Englishman to fireplace despite the fact that he hasn’t performed a lot T20 cricket within the latest previous.

Bairstow missed out on taking part in IPL 2023 as a consequence of a freak damage. Nevertheless, he’s able to taking aside any bowling assault on his day and PBKS will probably be hoping that Bairstow can ship with the bat after a season on the therapy desk.

Apart from Bairstow, the addition of Rilee Rossouw will probably be a lift to the staff. The South African was swooped up by PBKS for a whopping INR 8 crores after failing to discover a purchaser on the mini-auction.

Threat

One of the largest threats for Punjab Kings on this IPL may very well be the shortage of Indian all-rounders. Even although they’ve a number of high quality abroad all-rounders, it will likely be fascinating to see if they’ll carry out for the staff on a constant foundation.

PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan will probably be again in motion after nearly a 12 months. The 38-year-old batter had an honest IPL marketing campaign final 12 months as amassed 373 runs at a median of 41.44. But how he performs this season will probably be fascinating to be careful for, on condition that he hasn’t performed a aggressive sport since IPL 2023.

The Punjab Kings are but to repair their struggling center order which consists of Livingstone, Raza and Curran. Last 12 months, not one of the three have been in a position to rating previous 300 runs with their batting common remaining within the low 30s.

Probable Playing XII

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Rishi Dhawan (affect sub)