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Cricket News: PBKS IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Best of any team? | IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis: Punjab Kings
With the IPL 2022 Mega Auction done and dusted, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) seem to have assembled a robust squad this time around.
Chasing their first ever title in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, PBKS came into the auction with the biggest purse amongst all franchises. Moreover, they seemed to have a clear strategy in place this year as well. The acquisitions of Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada and Shikhar Dhawan dominated the headlines.
However, overall as well, the team seems to have done fairly well by forming a well-rounded roster of players. In this article, we look into detail into the moves made by the PBKS think-tank during the course of the last weekend.
PBKS Squad for IPL 2022
Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odeon Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell
PBKS Possible Playing XIs for IPL 2022
- Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar.
- Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Raj Angad Bawa, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar.
PBKS IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Key Strengths
1. Robust top-order
Punjab Kings have put together a formidable batting order in this auction. Replacing KL Rahul would have been a big ask at any point in time. However, Punjab roped in the duo of Jonny Bairstow and Shikhar Dhawan to fill that gaping hole at the top of the batting lineup.
Both Bairstow and Dhawan bring in bundles of experience with them. They are capable of playing long innings’, optimize the powerplay overs, attack right from the word go and are at ease against both pacers and spinners as well. Further, Punjab had already retained Mayank Agarwal.
The trio of Agarwal-Dhawan-Bairstow can very well wreak havoc against any bowling attack, in any given condition. The team management can be rest assured that they have done a good job replacing the charismatic presence of KL Rahul in the batting order.
2. Explosiveness in the middle
However, just starting off well isn’t enough in the IPL. Teams are often prone to losing momentum during the middle-overs and Punjab has tried to address that by acquiring both Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan.
The duo is in a good run of form currently. They can clear the ropes quite conveniently and are gradually developing a knack of finishing games off well.
None of them will be deterred by express hard length deliveries towards the back end of the innings either. This makes them tick all the boxes of the ideal middle-order batsmen in T20 cricket and hence it is of no surprise that PBKS shelled out around 21 crores to purchase their services. More importantly, they can roll their arms over and provide timely breakthroughs, too.
3. Kagiso Rabada
Though their batting takes the cake, Punjab have bolstered their bowling by getting Kagiso Rabada in their ranks. Rabada had a rather middling season last year but his potent skillsets have never been in doubt.
He is an invaluable asset to possess at any stage of an innings. Rabada has the ability to produce the exact accurate delivery in key moments and gives an almost four over insurance against any batting lineup in the T20 format. Punjab couldn’t really have gotten anyone better to lead their bowling lineup this year.
Also read:
- Mumbai Indians MI IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis
- Chennai Super Kings CSK IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis
PBKS IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Weaknesses
1. Lack of depth in lower-middle order
Successful IPL franchises usually have a long batting order. Their innings does not derail after successive fall of wickets in the middle-order. Punjab Kings do not look like they really have solidified their lower middle-order.
The likes of Odean Smith and Harpreet Brar are way too inexperienced to take the mantle for the side and deliver consistently right from the onset. Their top-order will more often than not bail the side out but that couldn’t be a guarantee in critical games as such.
Moreover, even the duo of Livingstone and Shahrukh are attracting all the praise more due to their reputation than anything else currently. They haven’t had breakthrough seasons in the IPL yet. Given these factors, Punjab is potentially staring at a long stretch of uncertainty following their opening trio.
2. Underwhelming bowling support cast
Rabada steals the limelight in that bowling attack. However, Punjab might fall short of credible options after him. Arshdeep Singh has had a good couple of years but whether he has hit his ceiling already is always a point to ponder upon.
The likes of Rishi Dhawan and Sandeep Sharma aren’t really the most attractive bowling alternatives in the T20 format in the current day and age. Rahul Chahar’s form has been rather concerning recently and Harpreet Brar isn’t really a wicket-taking option.
Though Punjab has done a better job than other years this time around, there are still looming doubts over whether they have strengthened their batting at the expense of their bowling attack. Teams that strike a balance between these two are usually the ones that walk their way to the championship.
Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter
