One of the most inconsistent teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Punjab Kings (PBKS) has only qualified for the IPL finals on 1 occasion. They have a lot of things to prove in IPL 2023 as they go on the hunt for their maiden IPL title.
After having a mediocre IPL 2022 season where they finished in the 6th position, Punjab Kings did a major overhaul in their think-tank. They let go of their former skipper Mayank Agarwal and also roped in a new coach.
With some big guns on their side in IPL 2023, Punjab Kings come into the tournament as one of the strongest teams on paper.
Their batting and bowling department looks extremely sorted and they would be fancying their chances.
In this article, we take a look at 3 reasons why Punjab Kings might qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2023:
1. Presence of a talismanic skipper in the form of Shikhar Dhawan
After parting ways with Mayank Agarwal, the Punjab team management has roped in Shikhar Dhawan as their new skipper for IPL 2023. The veteran Indian opener has truckloads of experience under his belt and has been one of the most consistent performers in IPL in recent times.
He has also captained Team India in several white-ball games and is one of the most dependable openers presently in India.
2. Addition of Sam Curran adds more balance to the team
The Player of the Tournament in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, there is absolutely no doubt that Sam Curran is one of the most powerful and reliable all-rounders presently in world cricket. Punjab Kings broke the bank to secure the services of Curran in the IPL 2023 mini-auctions.
Punjab Kings splashed a whopping Rs. 18.5 crore deal to secure the services of Sam Curran. His presence would add more dynamism to Punjab Kings as he can bat and bowl with equal power and strength.
3. Trevor Bayliss: An epitome of class
Another major addition to the personnel of Punjab Kings, Trevor Bayliss’s presence as the Head Coach of Punjab Kings would most certainly help the struggling team in IPL. He coached England to the ICC ODI World Cup title in 2019 and is a superb addition to the coaching personnel of Punjab Kings.
He is also responsible for shaping England as a white-ball dominant team in world cricket and has a lot of experience under his belt.
Also read: 3 Reasons Why Hardik Pandya Should Take Over The White-Ball Captaincy From Rohit Sharma Completely
