IPL 2023: PBKS SQUAD 2023, TEAM PLAYERS 2023, PLAYING 11, PBKS RETAINED PLAYERS

Preity Zinta’s Punjab Kings are all set to step in the 16th season of the Indian Premier League. Following some important team changes, the team will try everything possible to win the trophy for the first time. Formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, the team has made two IPL playoff appearances, in 2008 and 2014. But unfortunately, for the past eight seasons, they have failed to reach the playoffs.

Punjab will seek redemption and win the IPL trophy following numerous changes and a new captain (Shikhar Dhawan) on the journey.

Let’s have a look at the PBKS playing 11, full squad, and retained players list in the 2023 season.

PBKS SQUAD 2023

Jonny Bairstow (ENG), Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (SL), M. Shahrukh Khan, Atharva Taide, Harpreet Bhatia, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone (ENG), Sam Curran (ENG), Sikandar Raza (ZIM), Shivam Singh, Mohit Rathee, Arshdeep Singh, Baltej Singh, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis (AUS), Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada (SA), Vidwath Kaverappa. 

PBKS INJURED PLAYERS & REPLACEMENT

PLAYERS	REPLACEMENT
JONNY BAIRSTOW	TBD

A big blow for Punjab Kings came when their star batter Jonny Bairstow was ruled out of the entire IPL season. He is their prime option for both opening and keeping. The replacement is yet to be announced by the Punjab Super Kings management.

PBKS RETAINED PLAYERS

• Arshdeep Singh
• Shikhar Dhawan
• Kagiso Rabada
• Jonny Bairstow
• Shahrukh Khan
• Harpreet Brar
• Prabhsimran Singh
• Jitesh Sharma
• Rahul Chahar
• Liam Livingstone
• Raj Bawa
• Rishi Dhawan
• Baltej Dhanda
• Nathan Ellis
• Atharva Taide
• Bhanuka Rajapaksa

PBKS PROBABLE PLAYING XI

Shikhar Dhawan(C), Prabhsimarn Singh, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Jitesh Sharma(WK), S Raza, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh.

PBKS TEAM STRENGTH

• Death Bowling

The major strength in the Punjab Kings squad is their death bowling. They have 3 world’s best death specialists who are known for their economical bowling and wicket-taking abilities. They have Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, and Arshdeep Singh in the team who are very tough to hit in the slog overs.

PBKS TEAM WEAKNESS

• Opening- Pair

The team’s opening-pair has been a major weakness since the departure of Jonny Bairstow. There is no such player present in the team who can pair with Shikhar Dhawan to open the innings. The second opener has yet to be found by the management.

• Middle-order

The major issue in the PBKS squad is their middle-order batting line-up. They lack a strong batting order capable of strengthening the innings if the top order is dismissed early in the innings. They will need Bhanuka Rajapaksha and Liam Livingstone to play key roles in the middle order.