Will Shikhar Dhawan Miss Majority Of IPL 2024? Here's Why PBKS Captain Missed RR Clash
Shikhar Dhawan didn't play vs RR due to injury (X)
Punjab Kings (PBKS) suffered a setback as their skipper Shikhar Dhawan will be sidelined for at least two-three matches due to a shoulder injury. In his absence, Sam Curran took charge as captain for Punjab in their recent defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR).
In a thrilling encounter at the their home ground in Mullanpur, the Kings suffered a defeat against Rajasthan in what many dubbed as the real El Clasico of the IPL. The absence of Shikhar Dhawan was obvious, with Sam Curran shouldering the responsibility of leading the team.
After the match, Punjab Kings coach Sanjay Bangar addressed the media in a press conference, initially indicating that Dhawan could be out for a couple of days due to his shoulder injury.
However, he later corrected himself, stating that Dhawan's absence could extend to at least a week.
Jitesh Sharma is not Dhawan's deputy
Despite Jitesh Sharma standing in as the deputy for Shikhar Dhawan during the pre-tournament captains meetup, where Ruturaj Gaikwad was announced as CSK skipper, it was Sam Curran who took charge of Punjab Kings in Dhawan's absence.
This situation led to confusion among fans, but Sanjay Bangar clarified that Jitesh attended the captain's seminar only because Sam Curran arrived late from England.
Dhawan to be missed by Punjab
Despite Shikhar Dhawan not hitting top form in this IPL season, he remains PBKS' highest run-scorer at this stage, amassing 152 runs from five innings at an average of 30.40 and a strike rate of 125.61.
Dhawan's absence due to injury will undoubtedly create a significant void in the Punjab Kings lineup, adding pressure on the team to find suitable replacements and maintain their momentum in the tournament.
Punjab Kings will face Mumbai Indians on April 18th at Mullanpur stadium.
 "Nikhil Sebastian")
