IPL 2022: Can Punjab Kings’ explosive batting make up for bowling shortcomings?

Captain: Mayank Agarwal

Coaching Staff: Anil Kumble (head coach), Julian Wood (batting consultant), Damien Wright (bowling coach), Jonty Rhodes (assistant coach)

Owner: KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited

Best Performance: Runners-up 2014

2021 performance: Finished 6th for the second season straight.

SQUAD

Mayank Agarwal (c), Arshdeep Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell

Players’ availability

Jonny Bairstow, who is in the West Indies with England’s Test side, will miss the first two games. He could also miss the final, if Kings make it, as England host New Zealand for Tests from June 2. Kagiso Rabada will miss the opening match due to his involvement in the ODI series against Bangladesh.

Batting

With Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal at the top and Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone in the middle, followed by Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith as finishers, Punjab’s batting line-up is as explosive as it can get. Besides being experienced, the Dhawan-Agarwal pair also provides a left-right combination that has its own benefits. And Bairstow and Livingstone can take apart any bowling attack. Then they have Shahrukh and Smith who can hit from the first ball. They will be supported by Raj Bawa, Harpreet Brar and Kagiso Rabada, who all are capable batters. Punjab can replace Bawa, one of India’s U-19 World Cup stars, with more experienced Rishi Dhawan, if they want.

Punjab have hired power-hitting specialist Julian Wood and one can only imagine the havoc this batting line-up can wreak if their batters can buy into Wood’s philosophy and implement it in the matches.

The only concern they have is the lack of back-up options.

Bowling

While their batting is both experienced and explosive, their bowling lacks on both fronts. They will be heavily dependent on Rabada, for early wickets as well as death bowling. There is enough Indian talent in the side. Talented left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is definitely going to start for them. They also have Sandeep Sharma, who can make good use of the new ball and can provide support in the death overs with his change of pace and yorkers. There is also Ishan Porel with IPL experience.

The spin department will be led by Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar. Chahar played impressive role for Mumbai Indians for several seasons, while Brar bowled several economic spells last season — his economy rate of 6.04 was among the best. Livingstone is another spin option for them. He can bowl leg-spin as well as off-spin depending on the batter and the situation.

Potential Playing XI

1. Shikhar Dhawan
2. Mayank Agarwal (capt)
3. Jonny Bairstow (wk)
4. Liam Livingstone
5. Shahrukh Khan
6. Raj Bawa/Rishi Dhawan
7. Odean Smith
8. Harpreet Brar
9. Kagiso Rabada
10. Arshdeep Singh
11. Rahul Chahar