Another team in the tournament history who is yet to taste the success of their maiden IPL trophy. With the start of the new decade, Kings XI Punjab has changed its franchise name to Punjab Kings already to turn their fortunes. After having the smart cricketing brain like Anil Kumble still there are issues in the line-up of Punjab kings last year who were at once looked to made it to the playoffs. While in the crucial moments players failed to deliver upto expectations which in result their campaign was derailed.
Even in the auction this year they have released players like Glenn Maxwell and Sheldon Cottrell whose post hiatus form is very great. Surprisingly Punjab Kings picked in experienced players into his team without having much backup options for bowlers. Having said, let us take a look at the squad, strength and weakness of Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2021.
Punjab Kings 2021 Squad –
KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Mandeep Singh, Nicholas Pooran, Ishan Porel, Sarfaraz Khan, Murugan Ashwin, Deepak Hooda, Mohammed Shami, Chris Jordan, Ravi Bishnoi, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Darshan Nalkande, Arshdeep Singh, Dawid Malan, Jhye Richardson, Shahrukh Khan, Riley Meredith, Moises Henriques, Jalaj Saxena, Utkarsh Singh, Fabian Allen, Saurabh Kumar
Strengths – Like always this year once again all hopes will be on Punjab Kings batting
Still after releasing Glenn Maxwell, Punjab Kings batting have enough depth to qualify for the playoffs. Current captain KL Rahul will likely to begin on the same note where he left his batting last year. In the top order they are having player like Chris Gayle who is without the doubt the game changer like he was for other franchises in his IPL career.
Apart from these two in the middle order Punjab kings have Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Aggarwal and Mandeep Singh to contribute with bat alongside the most experience top order batsman. Even the domestic players like Sarfaraz Khan and Shahrukh Khan are in the great form in the domestic cricket. So Punjab Kings batting is not having much to worry about like other franchises in the league.
Weakness – Complete absurd bowling line-up
Like RCB, Punjab kings expectations to qualify for the playoffs depends on their batsman only. In the bowling column, expect the few names there is no big name who is having the experience of playing in the IPL so far. It's complete out of box strategy from the franchise to release Glenn Maxwell who can bat as bowl too crucial overs in between the game.
Apart from players like Mohammed Shami and Chris Jordan there is hardly the bowler in the Punjab Kings bowling cabinet who is having the experience or the ability to perform under pressure be it a fast bowler or spinner. It will be interesting to watch out how Punjab Kings will choose his playing XI and can they the repeat the last performance on the back of their batsman. This time their chances to qualify for the playoffs are even more less.
