At the 2022 mega auction, Punjab Kings constructed a powerful team comprised of numerous T20 match-winners. However, under the guidance of Mayank Agarwal, PBKS failed to string together consecutive victories and finished the league season in sixth place.
After yet another unsuccessful season, Punjab’s administration took some brave decisions and released nine of its players, including Mayank. PBKS selected top-tier players such as Sam Curran and Sikandar Raza in the IPL 2023 auction to strengthen the side’s balance.
With Trevor Bayliss as Punjab’s new head coach, one may expect stability in squad selection in the future. As a result, a number of their players may not see action over the full 2023 season.
Here are three PBKS players that may be benched for the whole 2023 season.
Number 1. Shivam Singh
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Shivam Singh is regarded as one of the most promising possibilities in Bihar cricket. The 26-year-old has the ability to take the offensive to the opponent straight away and assist turn the momentum in his team’s favour. He can also make important contributions with the ball.
The Punjab Kings sensed something special in Shivam and signed him for the 16th season of the cash-rich league. The Punjab franchise paid INR 20 lakh for the Kaimur-born. However, it is unclear if he will be able to make the starting XI.
Curran, Raza, and Livingstone are among the finest players available to PBKS. They also have Indian all-rounders like Raj Bawa and Rishi Dhawan, who have shown their worth on the local circuit. As a result, Shivam may be unable to make his IPL debut in the next season.
Number 2. Harpreet Singh Bhatia
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Harpreet Singh Bhatia worked as a run-banker on the Indian domestic circuit. The 31-year-old has played 84 List-A games and scored 3023 runs at an average of 45.11. In the shortest format, he has 2202 runs in 77 games with a strike rate of 124.54.
Harpreet lit up the Vijay Hazare Trophy season 2022 with his outstanding exploits. He appeared in seven games for Chhattisgarh, scoring 516 runs with a strike rate of 94.33. Because the ace hitter was in such good form, Punjab Kings signed him at the IPL 2023 auction.
However, considering the side’s makeup, the southpaw may not see action in the next edition. The Punjab franchise is expected to start with captain Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, and if any of them is unavailable, the think tank may consider integrating Prabhsimran Singh, who has been spectacular in the local arena and has been linked with PBKS since the IPL 2019.
Number 3.Mohit Rathee
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Mohit Rathee is a talented spinner on India’s local circuit. He is noted for being fairly consistent with his lines and lengths, and he can also contribute with the bat. Punjab Kings opted to invest in him and signed him at the IPL 2023 auction.
Mohit, on the other hand, may find it tough to get into the starting XI. PBKS’s bowling attack includes Indian spinners Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar. They have previously performed well in the lucrative T20 event and are hence expected to be Punjab’s first-choice for the IPL 2023.
Furthermore, Punjab has two outstanding spin-bowling all-rounders in Liam Livingstone and Raza. Given Shikhar Dhawan and the company’s top-tier spin options, Mohit may not even get a single game.
