Punjab Kings will begin their IPL 2023 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on 1st April. The Mohali-based franchise had last qualified for the playoff stages back in IPL 2014 when they had lost to KKR in the final.

Thus, they haven’t finished in the top four in the last eight seasons and they will be looking to come up with a collective show.

Meanwhile, PBKS bought Sam Curran for a massive amount of INR 18.50 crores and also added Sikandar Raza. Shikhar Dhawan has been appointed as the team’s captain and the veteran will look to get the best out of his players.

Strengths:

PBKS have a lot of power-hitters in their batting unit as there are likes of Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Shahrukh Khan, and Sikandar Raza. If they can come up with a good collective show then they could be a force to reckon with.

Weaknesses:

PBKS have a quality pace bowling line-up as they have Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh but they don’t have quality spinners in their ranks. Rahul Chahar will be their main spinner but apart from him, there isn’t enough guile in their spin attack. Furthermore, their middle order could also be their Achilles Heel as there isn’t much experience.

PBKS PROBABLE PLAYING XI: Jonny Bairstow (wk), Shikhar Dhawan (c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, M. Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar.

PBKS IPL 2023 SQUAD

Wicketkeepers: Jonny Bairstow (ENG), Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma.

Batters: Shikhar Dhawan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (SL), M. Shahrukh Khan, Atharva Taide, Harpreet Bhatia.

All-rounders: Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone (ENG), Sam Curran (ENG), Sikandar Raza (ZIM), Shivam Singh, Mohit Rathee.

Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Baltej Singh, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis (AUS), Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada (SA), Vidwath Kaverappa.