With the IPL 2024 Auction scheduled for December 19 in Dubai, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) are in a good position to bolster their already formidable team for the coming season. The mini-auction in Dubai will see 333 players put up for auction. Finding eight players, including two foreign players, to round up their 25-man roster would be PBKS’s problem. PBKS now has Rs 29.1 crore in its wallet after parting with Shahrukh Khan, whom it acquired for an astounding Rs 9 crore last year. Along with Mohit Rathee, Raj Bawa, and Baltej Dhanda, another important player dropped from the PBKS squad was Bhanuka Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka.
Shahrukh Khan’s exit caused some controversy among the departures. With the few opportunities he had the previous season, Khan—a proven lower-order Indian batter—contributed to PBKS. It’s possible that the choice to let him go was made strategically to recoup his costs. It will be interesting to see if this gamble pays out or not.
PBKS strategy for IPL 2024 auction
PBKS currently has 17 players on their roster, six of whom are foreign players, providing a solid base for their team. The two most experienced players in the lineup, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, are likely to lead the bat and may even open together. The talented Prabhsimran Singh is also included in the PBKS top order, which appears to be set.
Both Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran have a track record of finishing. One of the main goals for PBKS would therefore be to acquire an Indian batter who could provide support for Livingstone and Curran in the middle order. Another experienced player with the willow and behind the wickets is wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma.
A skilled overseas spin bowler and an all-round player with the calibre of Hardik Pandya would be the other targets that PBKS would be keeping an eye on. Enticing potential can be found in the pool of accessible players. Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, two New Zealand players, stand out among the overseas choices due to their outstanding performances at the 2023 ODI World Cup.
With a keen eye towards assembling a competitive team capable of competing for the coveted IPL crown for the first time, the Punjab Kings are prepared to make calculated moves and obtain the ideal blend of talent to bolster their roster as the IPL 2024 Auction approaches.
