Punjab Kings IPL 2022 Preview

IPL’s least successful team have undergone a complete overhaul in 2022 with the Punjab Kings going in a fresh direction under their new captain Mayank Agarwal. After losing out on the chance to retain their leader KL Rahul, the Kings built an impressive squad at the auction with plenty of exciting purchases such as Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada and Odean Smith. Although Punjab have failed to qualify for the final four in the IPL since 2014, the Kings’ fortunes could turn in 2022 with a new strategy and squad.

Strengths

Punjab have packed their batting line-up with plenty of six-hitting talent, with players such as Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith known for their ability to clear the ropes consistently. Despite losing KL Rahul, Punjab have an incredibly strong opening partnership this season in the form of Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan. Agarwal and Dhawan complement each other perfectly as a right-hand left-hand combination, with Mayank suited to being the aggressor and Dhawan playing the anchor’s role.

In the bowling department, Punjab have plenty of variety in terms of their spinners, with Rahul Chahar, Liam Livingstone and Harpreet Brar giving the captain plenty of options through the middle overs depending on different match-ups. In addition, the Kings also have one of the best death bowlers on the planet in Kagiso Rabada, who has picked up 76 wickets in 50 IPL matches. 

Weaknesses

For all the excitement in the Punjab XI, the Kings do have some weaknesses in their squad, namely the inexperience of their middle order. Punjab are likely to field three untested quantities – Raj Bawa, Odean Smith and Harpreet Brar – in the middle order, and they could have issues with finishing games if the top order doesn’t fire.

The Punjab Kings also don’t have too many wicket-taking options in the powerplay, with Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada both more known for their exploits at the death in the Indian Premier League.

Player to watch out for: Liam Livingstone

Despite averaging just 14 in nine IPL matches, Liam Livingstone is one of the most exciting T20 players in the world and could be a game-changer in Punjab’s middle-order. Livingstone was the MVP in the first edition of the Hundred in 2021 and is a ferocious power-hitter versus pace who can also bowl both off-spin and leg-spin. Livingstone has a strike-rate of 158 in 17 T20I’s and recently scored the fastest T20I century by an Englishman, reaching the three-figure mark against Pakistan in just 42 balls.

Likely Playing XI

Mayank Agarwal, Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Raj Bawa, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh