Arguably one of the most ineffective teams in IPL history, the Punjab Kings will strive to break the curse this season and hope to deliver a better performance. Shikhar Dhawan will lead the team, which boasts significant firepower. Prabhsimran Singh showcased a couple of excellent innings last season and is likely to retain his place at the top of the order. However, we are not sure if he is truly a player who will ultimately become great in T20 cricket. The middle order combines well with both domestic and international stars, including Jitesh Sharma, Atharva Taide, Riley Rossouw, and Jonny Bairstow. The team also has several quality all-rounders such as Liam Livingstone, Sikandar Raza, and Sam Curran. There’s plenty of firepower, but PBKS tends to start slowly and underutilize the power they have in the middle. Arshdeep Singh is likely to spearhead the attack with the new ball alongside Kagiso Rabada, and the inclusion of Harshal Patel will only bolster the seam attack. This rotation could be the team’s Achilles’ heel. Last season wasn’t the best for Rahul Chahar, and the team will have to rely on the all-rounders.
After a couple of unsuccessful seasons, the Delhi Capitals will look to kick off their new campaign on a positive note. Undoubtedly, the biggest boost for the team will be the return of captain Rishabh Pant, who is likely to take the field after nearly a 14-month hiatus. He will join two other strong wicket-keeping batsmen, Shai Hope and Tristan Stubb. Prithvi Shaw and David Warner form an explosive opening pair, while domestic talents Yash Dhull and Ricky Bhui add depth to the middle order. Harry Brook, who was transferred from the Sunrisers, opted out of the series, and he was replaced by Australian youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk. Mitchell Marsh and Axar Patel are two versatile players in the team who add depth to the game. The absence of Lungi Ngidi due to injury leaves an obvious pace void, as Ishant Sharma and Khaleel Ahmed have played little cricket in recent weeks. The spin department has improved thanks to Axar and Kuldeep Yadav.
