Why PBKS have struggled in IPL 2022?

Before the start of the IPL 2022, a lot of cricket pundits had predicted a qualifier berth for the Punjab Kings. Many experts had even tagged them as the ‘title contenders’ as the Mayank Agarwal-led side managed to buy a bunch of destructive batters alongside some very good bowlers in the mega auction.  

But contrary to people’s beliefs, Punjab Kings have been really inconsistent in this IPL. They have had their moments as they won some games by fighting hard in the middle, but at the same time, they have suffered some harsh defeats as well. The franchise lost against LSG last Friday, their fifth defeat this season, which let them slip to the seventh spot in the points table. 

To be honest, this sort of performance wasn’t expected from PBKS as they had assembled a really good squad. So here’s an attempt to find the reasons behind Punjab’s roller coaster ride in IPL 2022.

Poor batting has cost them four matches out of the five games they have lost. They were all out posting below-par totals like 137, 151 and 115 against KKR, SRH and DC, respectively and could score only 133 runs chasing 154 against LSG. Let’s dig a bit deeper to find the root causes of their batting failure. 

Reason:1- Mayank Agarwal’s poor form:

The PBKS captain Mayank Agarwal is regarded as one of the finest batters in the team. His intent was spectacular in the last two seasons as he helped Punjab in getting great starts in most of the games. His game in the powerplay was exemplary, and he was equally solid against spinners. 

However, the experienced Karnataka batter hasn’t been able to replicate the same level of success this season. The table below compares Mayank’s performance in this season to that in the last two seasons.

The table clearly indicates a drastic fall in his average and strike rate this season. He has got good starts in a few games, but somehow, he hasn’t converted them into impactful knocks. The pressure of being the captain has probably got the better of him. 

Reason:2- Ordinary batting in the middle overs

The performance of the PBKS batting unit in the middle overs has contributed immensely to their batting woes. The PBKS batters were poor in the middle overs in the five matches they lost this season. As a result, they have not only scored at a significantly lower strike rate but also lost wickets frequently in this phase in these five games, as indicated by the stats tabulated below.  

(PBKS batters’ overall performance between 7-15 overs in lost matches)

The data vividly represents the misery of the PBKS batters in the middle overs phase. Their numbers against spinners are found to be worse, as evident by the stats below.   

(PBKS batter’s performance against spin bowling in middle overs in the lost matches)

These stats above clearly show that although the PBKS batters average a touch higher against the spinners, they have been extremely conservative against them in the middle overs in these five games.

Reason: 3- Failure of big hitters like Bairstow, Shahrukh and Odean Smith

The presence of Jonny Bairstow, Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith in Punjab’s batting lineup certainly makes it a fearsome one on paper. But unfortunately, the abysmal returns of these three big-budget players have proved costly for the team. 

Jonny Bairstow formed one of the most successful opening pairs with David Warner during his stint with SRH. However, the idea of using him as a middle-overs enforcer hasn’t worked for Punjab. Here is what stats say about Bairstow’s performance in IPL 2022 and the three seasons he played prior to it. 

Similarly, spending a whopping amount of INR 9 crores on Shahrukh Khan has backfired PBKS badly as the finisher has scored 98 runs at an average of 16.83 and a mediocre strike rate of 100. Also, Odean Smith, who was bought for INR 6 crores, turned out to be a complete failure as he has managed to score just 51 runs at a poor strike rate of 115.91. The failure of these two players has weakened Punjab’s finishing to a large extent. 

With the kind of team they have, it’s still possible for the Punjab Kings to make a roaring comeback and assure a playoff spot by winning their remaining matches. Their bowling has been top-notch in the majority of the games, and it’s just their invincible batting unit that has to click. They need to regroup and form small and precise objectives and try their best to execute those plans while batting on the field. 

Can PBKS lift themselves up? We’ll have to wait to get the answer.