IPL titles: 0
How did Punjab Kings fare in IPL 2023?
Not upto the expectations. Again. Punjab Kings (PBKS) once again missed out on the IPL playoffs in 2023 after finishing in eighth place with just 12 points from 14 matches. They were led by Shikhar Dhawan last season, and began their campaign on a positive note, with victories over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). However, PBKS never looked as a team that could reach the playoffs. Their bowlers failed to deliver at times, and one of their heaviest defeats last season was a 56-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants in Mohali, after the visitors posted 257/5 on the board.
Five of PBKS’ victories came in the first 10 matches but regular defeats in the last four games saw them all but get eliminated from the tournament following a 15-run loss to Delhi Capitals (DC).
Sam Curran, their costliest buy at the IPL 2023 auction, finished the season with just 276 runs from 14 matches and 10 wickets.
Win percentage: 44.82 %.
Punjab Kings have played 232 IPL matches till date, winning just 104 and losing 124 matches. They have, however, won via Super Over thrice and lost in the same method once. Inconsistency in most of the seasons (Just two playoff appearances in 16 seasons) have hurt PBKS big time, and their win percentage stands at just 44.82 %. They have only reached the knockout stages twice in 16 seasons, including a runners-up finish in 2014.
Highest run-getter: KL Rahul (2548 runs)
KL Rahul joined Punjab Kings in 2018, and in his four-season stay with the team, Rahul has aggregated 2548 runs from 55 innings at an average of 56.62. This includes two centuries and 23 fifties. KL Rahul, who amassed more than 500 runs in each of his seasons with PBKS, left the franchise at the end of IPL 2021 to join Lucknow Super Giants.
Highest wicket-taker: Piyush Chawla (84 wickets)
Piyush Chawla is Punjab Kings’ highest wicket-taker with 84 scalps from 87 innings at an economy rate of 7.52. His best figures remains 4/17 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2011 that came in a winning cause.
Highest individual score: KL Rahul (132* vs RCB in 2020)
KL Rahul amassed an unbeaten 132 from just 69 balls against RCB in their IPL 2020 match in Dubai. His heroics helped PBKS post 206/3, and they defended that with ease with RCB being bowled out for 109.
Highest team score: 232/2 vs RCB
In this IPL 2011 match, Adam Gilchrist’s 55-ball 106 and Shaun Marsh’s 49-ball 79 helped PBKS post 232/2 in Dharamsala. In reply, RCB were bundled out for just 121, with AB de Villiers top scoring with 34 runs. PBKS thus completed a 111-run win.
Favourite opponent: Deccan Chargers
Although Deccan Chargers is now defunct, Punjab Kings enjoyed a good record against the former Hyderabad-based side. Punjab Kings had a win percentage of 70 against DC, having won seven matches and losing just three. Among the current IPL teams, they have a decent record against Delhi Capitals, having won 15 matches out of 26 with a win percentage of 59.61.
Bogey team: Sunrisers Hyderabad
PBKS’ bogey team is another team from Hyderabad. PBKS and SRH have faced off in the IPL 21 times with Punjab coming out victorious on just seven occasions. Their remaining 14 matches have ended in defeats. A win percentage of 33.33 is not something to boast about for Punjab Kings.
Purchases, retentions and full squad
Players bought by PBKS at IPL 2024 Auction: Harshal Patel (Rs 11.75 crore), Chris Woakes (Rs 4.20 crore), Ashutosh Sharma (Rs 20 lakh), Vishwanath Singh (Rs 20 lakh), Shashank Singh (Rs 20 lakh), Tanay Thyagarajan (Rs 20 lakh), Prince Choudhary (Rs 20 lakh), Rilee Rossouw (Rs 8 crore)
Punjab Kings retained players: Shikhar Dhawan, Jitesh Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Matthew Short, Harpreet Bhatia, Atharva Taide, Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Shivam Singh, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Gurnoor Brar, Vidwath Kaverappa
PBKS full squad: Arshdeep Singh, Atharva Taide, Harpreet Brar, Harpreet Bhatia, Jitesh Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Nathan Ellis, Prabhsimran Singh, Rahul Chahar, Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran, Shikhar Dhawan, Shivam Singh, Sikandar Raza, Vidwath Kaverappa, Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Singh, Shashank Singh, Tanay Thyagarajan, Prince Choudhary, Rilee Rossouw
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