As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 is set to roll out on March 26, fans and pundits are busy figuring out possible playing combinations of all the franchises. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra focused on Punjab Kings (PBKS) and predicted their leading run-scorer and leading wicket-taker while chalking out their probable playing XI.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra mentioned the names of Shikhar Dhawan and Kagiso Rabada as the highest run-getter and leading wicket-taker of the season for the Punjab-based franchise. Further, he added that Liam Livingstone will end up with the highest strike rate within the team.
“Shikhar Dhawan will be the leading run-scorer for Punjab Kings. There is a possibility that he might win the Orange Cap in the process as well. Rabada will be the leading wicket-taker, he might win the Purple Cap as well. Highest strike rate is a close call between Agarwal, Livingstone, and Shahrukh, but I think it’ll be Livingstone. I think they should finish in the top four, they have the team to do so,” Aakash Chopra said as quoted on his YouTube channel.
On the Kings’ starting XI, the cricketer-turned-commentator said, “Dhawan and Mayank to open the innings. They might be the most consistent opening pair. With Bairstow not there for the first couple of matches, they will have to play Prabhsimran Singh at No. 3. Then comes Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan, then Benny Howell at No. 6. Odean Smith, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Sandeep Sharma, and Arshdeep as the bowlers. This team will be even better after Bairstow returns.”
For the unversed, Jonny Bairstow will not be available for Punjab in the first few matches as he will be involved in an international assignment till March 28.
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Meanwhile, Punjab Kings bolstered their squad with many new exciting talents. The franchise had retained only Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep Singh for the upcoming IPL season and acquired a lot of fresh faces in the mega auction.
Full squad of Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odeon Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell.