GameDay Squad IND Fantasy Cricket Squad Preview: The Punjab Kings! Get the inside scoop on the Punjab Kings Cricket Squad for the upcoming GameDay Squad competition with an in-depth analysis and preview. Find out who to watch out for!
The Punjab Kings had several underwhelming performances and finished 8th with six wins in the 2023 IPL season. They are one of three of the founding teams yet to win the IPL and they have failed to make the finals in fourteen of their sixteen seasons. Their home ground this season is the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. This stadium has been newly constructed and the first ever IPL match here will be between the Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals this weekend. PBKS might be a surprise package this season and they will be hoping that a change in venue may mean a change in fortunes.
Squad (Averages and position rank for IPL 2023 included)
Shikhar Dhawan – Batsman (AVG 43, Rank 11th)
Atharva Taide – All-rounder (AVG 37, Rank 16th)
Sam Curran – All-rounder (AVG 45, Rank 6th)
Rahul Chahar – Bowler (AVG 20, Rank 65th)
Kagiso Rabada – Bowler (AVG 32, Rank 36th)
Arshdeep Singh – Bowler (AVG 33, Rank 32nd)
Harpreet Brar – Bowler (AVG 24, Rank 58th)
Harpreet Bhatia – Batsman (AVG 33, Rank 19th)
Nathan Ellis – Bowler (AVG 32, Rank 34th)
Rishi Dhawan – All-rounder (AVG 12, Rank 48th)
Shivam Singh – All-rounder (AVG N/A, Rank N/A)
Sikandar Raza – All-rounder (AVG 40, Rank 12th)
Vidwath Kaverappa – Bowler (AVG N/A, Rank N/A)
Rilee Rossouw – Batsman (AVG 30, Rank 22nd)
Chris Woakes – All-rounder (AVG N/A, Rank N/A)
Harshal Patel – Bowler (AVG 27, Rank 44th)
Jonny Bairstow – Wicket-Keeper (AVG N/A, Rank N/A)
Liam Livingstone – All-rounder (AVG 45, Rank 7th)
Jitesh Sharma – Wicket-Keeper (AVG 30, Rank 12th)
Prabhsimran Singh – Wicket-Keeper (AVG 31, Rank 11th)
Shashank Singh – All-rounder (AVG N/A, Rank N/A)
Vishwanath Singh – All-rounder (AVG N/A, Rank N/A)
Ashutosh Sharma – All-rounder (AVG N/A, Rank N/A)
Tanay Thyagarajan – All-rounder (AVG N/A, Rank N/A)
Prince Choudhary – Bowler (AVG N/A, Rank N/A)
Batters
Superstar batsman and captain Shikhar Dhawan is the second-highest all-time run-scorer in the history of the IPL. In 2023 he averaged 34 runs, hit three fifties, and had three scores of less than ten runs. He averaged 43 points (using GDS scoring) and ranked as one of the top three batters in a match in seven of his eleven matches. Dhawan also had two scores of 100+ points and he can provide GDS coaches with a very high ceiling. Due to his upside and limited batsman options at PBKS, he might become a must start whenever PBKS play!
Bowlers
Arshdeep Singh is the only player from PBKS that is a regular in the India limited overs squads. Singh will likely feature in the powerplay or at the death. He took 17 wickets over the 14 matches for an average of 33 points last season, and I think we will see an improvement on these numbers this season.
Kagiso Rabada is the international star bowler for PBKS, but he struggled at times last season from a fantasy point of view. He averaged 32 points and ranked as one of the top three bowlers in a match in two of his six matches. In 2022 he took 23 wickets over his 13 matches at a SR of 12.5. If he can produce his form from 2022, he might be one of the first selected players in GDS whenever PBKS play!
All-rounders
Sam Curran is the star of the show here, well he should be as became the most-expensive player in the history of the IPL in 2023 (this has since been surpassed by Cummins and Starc in the 2024 auction). Curran took 10 wickets and scored 276 runs for an average of 45 points in 2023. PBKS might feel that Curran didn't live up to their expectations and will be hoping he can show the form that he did in the 2022 T20 World Cup. With four all-rounder positions to fill for each match in GDS, Curran is a must start. He ranked as one of the top four all-rounders in a match in twelve of his fourteen matches' last season.
Liam Livingstone is the other all-rounder from PBKS that GDS coaches should be aware of. He had a disappointing 2023 campaign but still averaged 45 points and was ranked 7th in the all-rounder rankings. To be fair, his 2023 form wasn't all that disappointing, but it was compared to the form he showed in 2022. In 2022 he scored 437 runs and hit four fifties over the 14 matches that he played. As fantasy coaches, let's hope we see the 2022 Liam Livingstone this season.
Wicket Keeper
Jonny Bairstow is the most well-known wicket-keeper for PBKS. During his time here, he hasn't shown the form that he produced while at Sunrisers Hyderabad. While at PBKS, he only averaged 23 runs over his 11 matches in 2022 and missed the 2023 due to injury. He will likely open the batting alongside Dhawan and this duo are capable of doing a lot of damage at the top of the order. PBKS will be hoping Bairstow can turn back the clock and average 40+ runs, like he did while at Sunrisers Hyderabad. Bairstow will likely peak many GDS coaches' interest, and he may become one of the first selected players in GDS whenever PBKS play!
Predicted Starting XI
1. Shikhar Dhawan
2. Jonny Bairstow
3. Prabhsimran Singh
4. Liam Livingstone
5. Jitesh Sharma
6. Sam Curran
7. Harshal Patel
8. Harpreet Brar
9. Kagiso Rabada
10. Rahul Chahar
11. Arshdeep Singh
Impact Player: Sikandar Raza