A lot has modified for the Punjab workforce since their disappointing exhibiting in final season’s Indian Premier League (IPL). Punjab Kings, as they’re now known as, might be hoping {that a} new title, a brand new emblem and a brand new look, will carry round a change within the fortunes for the workforce. Final time, the Punjab workforce certified for the playoffs was in 2014, ending runners-up. Since then, it has been powerful going and their efficiency within the UAE final season was a mirrored image of the workforce’s travails within the IPL in current occasions. Regardless of boasting some massive names, Punjab may solely handle a sixth-place end within the IPL Factors Desk, identical variety of factors (12) as Chennai Tremendous Kings and Rajasthan Royals — the 2 bottom-placed groups.
New faces
Punjab Kings adopted a technique of ‘out with the previous and in with the brand new’ for the IPL public sale. They’d the utmost funds amongst all of the groups going into the public sale, and cashed in big-time, shopping for 9 gamers for a whopping sum of Rs 47.90 crore.
The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Jimmy Neesham and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman have been casualties. In got here Australian pacer Jhye Richardson for an eye-watering Rs 14 crore, Riley Meredith was purchased for Rs 8 crore.
Shahrukh Khan value them Rs 5.25 crore whereas different notable names like Moises Henriques, Dawid Malan and Fabian Allen have been additionally roped in.
Previous guard
Regardless of dropping some massive names from their roster, Punjab Kings managed to retain a robust core group, led by captain KL Rahul. Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran, Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda to call just a few survived the chop and might be hoping to repay the belief proven in them by the workforce administration.
Younger stars like Darshan Nalkande, Ravi Bishnoi, Murugan Ashwin, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar and Ishan Porel have been additionally retained however may have a combat on their palms to get into the workforce forward of the brand new purchases.
Punjab’s journey final yr
Regardless of an honest begin to life in IPL 2020 — a Tremendous Over loss to Delhi Capitals of their opening sport and a win over RCB of their second — Punjab have been woeful for a lot of the season.
They misplaced the following 5 matches earlier than beating RCB once more.
Promoted
The workforce managed to win their 4 matches, together with a win over a fancied Mumbai Indians, elevating hopes of reaching the playoffs. However the good work was undone after they didn’t win their subsequent two matches, which meant one other end exterior the highest 4.
In all, Punjab Kings may solely muster six wins, shedding eight occasions.
