Punjab Kings will participate in the 17th season of the IPL, hoping to shed their tag of perennial underachievers. Here is an in-depth preview of PBKS ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, including their strengths, weaknesses, purse remaining, players to target and more.

Having originally entered the IPL in 2008 as Kings XI Punjab, the Punjab-based franchise ended the inaugural season as one of a semi-finalist. Since then, they have been largely inconsistent, and have not qualified for the playoffs barring a runners-up finish in 2014.

Ahead of the 2021 edition, they rebranded themselves as Punjab Kings, but the revamp did not bring a change of fortune as they finished sixth on the points table in 2021 and 2022, followed by an eighth-placed finish last year.

In the 2024 pre-auction retention window, they have put faith in their core, contrary to their history of constant chopping and changing.

Punjab Kings IPL 2024 auction preview: Trades, full squad, purse & slots remaining

Trades

Punjab Kings haven’t traded any players before the 2024 IPL thus far.

Players released

Baltej Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Mohit Rathee, Raj Angad Bawa, Shahrukh Khan, Matthew Short, Gurnoor Brar.

Squad before auction

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Atharva Taide, Harpreet Singh, Shivam Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Vidwath Kaverappa, Liam Livingstone, Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Jitesh Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh.

Purse remaining (in INR)

29.1 crore

Slots remaining

8(2 overseas)

PBKS IPL 2024 auction preview: Strengths

Strong opening combination

The experienced Shikhar Dhawan and the explosive Jonny Bairstow make a fearsome opening pair. Dhawan ended as the highest scorer for PBKS last season, scoring 373 runs at an average of 41.44 besides a strike rate of 143, but Bairstow was ruled out due to a freakish leg injury. However, he has scored 1291 career runs while averaging 35.86 and striking at 143 in 39 games, including a century and nine fifties, and will be eager to repay the faith put in him.

Kagiso Rabada as pace-bowling spearhead

Firebrand pacer Rabada is entering this year’s IPL riding his decent form for South Africa at the World Cup. Despite having a lacklustre season in 2023, his maiden stint with the franchise, in 2022, witnessed him claim 23 scalps from 13 games at 17.65 apiece and an economy of 8.45. Salvation for Rabada can pave a redemption arch for Punjab as well.

Punjab Kings IPL 2024 auction preview: Weaknesses

Indian bowling contingent thin on experience

In 2023, PBKS rued the lack of form of their lead spinner, Rahul Chahar, who managed only eight wickets from 14 matches. Sikandar Raza, Harpreet Brar, and Liam Livingstone struggled to cover up. Except Arshdeep Singh, their indigenous pace arsenal let them down.

Poor form of marquee signings Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone

Curran and Livingstone had through a torrid time during England’s World Cup 2023 debacle and their ODI series defeat in the West Indies since 2007, with them underperforming horribly.

Curran, the costliest player in the IPL’s history, could only manage 10 wickets in 14 outings at an economy exceeding 10, impacting crucial clashes, alongside his batting returns of 276 runs with a solitary fifty. Livingstone did well in patches, scoring two fifties in his tally of 279 runs to finish as their second-highest scorer for the second straight year. Punjab Kings are walking on thin ice: they have retained their marquee players ahead of the 2024 auction, expecting them to regain touch.

PBKS IPL 2024 auction preview: Potential first XI

PBKS need to address the missing links in the auction to make a formidable XI.

Punjab Kings IPL 2024 auction preview: Players to target

Experienced spinner: Punjab Kings’ primary task at the auction table is to find an experienced tweaker, something they have listed among their agendas this year. The demand may necessitate them to spend a whopping amount to sign up Wanindu Hasaranga, a wily leg-spinner with googlies as stock deliveries besides lower-order batting capabilities. Their fat purse will give them an edge over their opponents if an aggressive bid unfolds for the Sri Lankan.

Indian fast bowler: The upcoming bidding war could witness Punjab Kings going all guns blazing to secure the service of Shardul Thakur to bolster their pace artillery, given his knack of being a partnership breaker in addition to his lower-order batting exploits. Harshal Patel, Umesh Yadav, Kartik Tyagi and Siddharth Kaul are other domestic contenders who could solve their bowling woes.

Middle-order batter: World Cup 2023 breakout star Rachin Ravindra will be on their radar as he can be a valuable number three batter besides being a perfect foil to the main spinners. Rachin can be an insurance buy to the foreigners they already have.

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