PBKS prediction for IPL 2023: Probable XI, squad list, injury updates and IPL team news

Punjab Kings will begin their IPL 2023 campaign with an afternoon match against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Mohali on April 1 – here is the predicted PBKS XI for the match, along with tournament prediction, squad and schedule.

Punjab Kings are 10/1 to win their maiden IPL title with our Match Centre partners bet365. To bet on the outright market of the competition head here.

Punjab have reached the IPL top four only twice, in 2008 and 2014, finishing runners-up in the latter. They finished sixth in each of the last four editions, though in 2022, they did that out of ten teams instead of the usual eight.

Ahead of the 2023 auction, Punjab released captain Mayank Agarwal along with Sandeep Sharma, Odean Smith, Vaibhav Arora, Ishan Porel, Benny Howell, Ansh Patel, Prerak Mankad, and Writtick Chatterjee.

At the auction, the Kings acquired Sam Curran, who, at INR 18.5 crore, became the most expensive cricketer in the history of the IPL. They also got Sikandar Raza for INR 50 lakh.

Punjab appointed Shikhar Dhawan their new captain and Trevor Bayliss as their new coach, and drafted in Matthew Short for the injured Jonny Bairstow.

Punjab Kings squad at IPL 2023

(Overseas players underlined)

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shahrukh Khan, Matthew Short, Harpreet Bhatia, Shivam Singh, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Sikandar Raza, Rishi Dhawan, Atharva Taide, Raj Bawa, Mohit Rathee, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Baltej Singh, V Kaverappa.

Punjab Kings schedule at IPL 2023: Click here for match timings

PBKS in IPL 2023: Team news

As mentioned above, Punjab will lose Bairstow for the entire season, though he is on a comeback trail. Short, his replacement, was named Player of the Tournament at the 2022/23 Big Bash League.

Punjab will start IPL 2023 without Kagiso Rabada, who will play against the Netherlands, and Liam Livingstone, who is on the final stages of his recovery. Once the full team assembles, however, Punjab look – at least on paper – an explosive side, at least on paper.

PBKS probable XI for first game of IPL 2023

Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shahrukh Khan, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sikandar Raza, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh.