Shikhar Dhawan, Bairstow To Open; Punjab Kings' Strongest XI For IPL 2024

Jitesh Sharma in IPL 2023 for PBKS (X.com)Jitesh Sharma in IPL 2023 for PBKS (X.com)

The stage is set for the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, and as always, there is a great of sense of excitement around the cricketing world. It is the most competitive T20 league in the world and every team in the tournament has a dedicated fan-base irrespective of their performances in the last 16 years.

One of those teams is Punjab Kings. They have been consistently inconsistent over the years and last made it to the playoffs in 2014. Since then, they have made flurry of changes to their squad which has not yielded any positive results, and for the first time in many years, they are coming into an IPL season with a settled mindset. 

They have retained most of their players from the last season and would be hoping that their players repay the faith with performances on the field under the able leadership of Shikhar Dhawan.

So, let's see who are those key players for PBKS this season and what could be their strongest XI.

Openers

Shikhar Dhawan & Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow is back for IPL 2024 (X.com)Jonny Bairstow is back for IPL 2024 (X.com)

Shikhar Dhawan will be leading Punjab Kings and his performances at the top of the order will be key for Punjab. He provides the stability in the line-up full of power-hitters and was the leading run-scorer for PBKS last season with 373 runs at an average of 41.44. 

Alongside Dhawan, there is another experienced cricketer, Jonny Bairstow. He missed out in the last season due to an injury, but he is fully fit now, and can demolish bowling attacks if he finds his groove.


Middle Order/ All-rounders

Prabhsimran Singh, Atharva Taide, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Sam Curran

Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone for PBKS (X.com)Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone for PBKS (X.com)

At number 3, it will be Prabhsimran Singh who impressed in the last season with a fantastic century. However, he needs to be more consistent and if he does that, this could well be his breakthrough season. 

Atharva Taide is another young cricketer who has been swiftly rising through the ranks of Indian cricket. He can bat at 4 and can be used as an impact player in the second innings, if PBKS is bowling first.

The rest of the middle order batters - Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma and Sam Curran can all be flexible and they can be used according to the demands of the team. All three have the ability to get going from the onset and if they fire in unison, PBKS can post some big totals this season. 

Also Livingstone can deliver crucial overs with the ball and if Sam Curran bowls to his potential, he can swing the new ball and also nail those yorkers at the death. 

Bowlers

Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar

Arshdeep Singh in IPL for PBKS (X.com)Arshdeep Singh in IPL for PBKS (X.com)

On the bowling front, they have brought in Harshal Patel by spending some big bucks in the auction. He is a specialist death-bowler and that allows Shikhar Dhawan to use Kagiso Rabada majorly in the Powerplay and in middle overs. 

Rahul Chahar will be the specialist spinner in the XI, he has all the tricks in the book to bamboozle opponents, and would be eyeing a big season after just 8 wickets in the 2023 edition.

Arshdeep Singh though will be the biggest asset as has the talent to deliver both with the new ball and at the death, and if he does well, PBKS will be in happy space this season.

 Note: Sikandar Raza or Harpreet Brar can fit into the XI if the conditions demand an extra spinner.

Punjab Kings Strongest XI For IPL 2024

Shikhar Dhawan (C), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Atharva Taide, Jitesh Sharma (VC & WK), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar.