Former India player Sunil Gavaskar added that the Punjab Kings (PBKS) are unlikely to qualify for the playoffs in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). However, PBKS haven’t made a lot of changes to their squad despite finishing eighth in IPL 2023. They have reached the knockout stages just twice in 16 seasons and haven’t done so since their runners-up finish in IPL 2014 as well.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Gavaskar said: “Maybe last four but not top four. I am happy to be proven wrong, no problems. I think the batting looks a little bit too dependent on Shikhar Dhawan. Shikhar, of course, is the kind of player who has been so successful in all the IPLs so far. Virtually always every single time he ends up as the top scorer for his franchise. So the responsibility for doing that again rests on him. If he gets the team off to a good start, that will be a big help.”
Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan was PBKS’ top run-getter in IPL 2023. The left-handed batter smashed 373 runs which came at an average of 41.44 and a strike rate of 142.91 in 11 innings. Sunil Gavaskar had different views about the Punjab Kings’ middle order and bowling lineup as well.
“The middle order looks just a little bit iffy as well as far as the Punjab team is concerned. Yes, you could say that the bowling has got a little more quality this time around. However, it depends on the kind of pitches they play on, not so much in Mohali, but somewhere else where they are going to be playing, how does that bowling attack shape up?” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.
