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Punjab entered the season as one of the strongest contenders to finish in the top four after recruiting the services of many star players. However, the lack of consistency in their performances and not winning back-to-back matches proved to be detrimental for the franchise.
The Mayank Agarwal-led side relied mainly on their experienced cricketers but the likes of Shahrukh Khan, Johnny Bairstow and the skipper himself didn’t perform to the expectations which hurt their chances of progressing to the playoffs. With 7 wins in 14 matches, Punjab finished sixth in the points table.
Now, ahead of next season, the team management will look to release some of their players who have been disappointed with their performances and players who might not fit into their scheme of things for next season.
Here we bring you three players that PBKS might release ahead of IPL 2023.
1. Odean Smith
Odean Smith. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)The West Indies all-rounder was bought by Punjab Kings for INR 6 crore during the mega auction in the hope that he will put on his all-round show and power the franchise to lift their maiden IPL title. However, he failed to live up to expectations with his performances and eventually got dropped from the team after the first half of the IPL.
Smith played six matches this season, picking up six wickets and scoring 51 runs at a strike rate of 115.91. The right-arm pacer was very expensive with the ball, going at an economy rate of over 11.87. Smith delivered once with his all-round skills but was otherwise inconsistent.
With his inconsistency in both the departments, we may see Smith being released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2023. Punjab will definitely go for a quality all-rounder next season. Moreover, with a limited number of overseas quotas per squad, PBKS will look to find an experienced overseas all-rounder.
2. Sandeep Sharma
Sandeep Sharma. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)Sandeep Sharma is an experienced medium-pacer who has been playing since 2013 and this year he was bought by the Punjab Kings, but it did not work out to plan. The right-arm bowler played just five matches, picking up 2 wickets at an economy rate of 7.65. Sandeep can feel hard done by, given the lack of opportunities this season despite having 114 wickets to his name in IPL.
The 29-year-old was not used by the Punjab franchise as much as his former team, the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Punjab didn’t show much faith in him as when he went expensive in the first game, he was dropped by the management. Sandeep’s performances have also gotten a sudden decline in the last couple of editions.
PBKS have had the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh as frontline pacers and the inclusion of Rishi Dhawan as the third pacer provided a balance to the side. Hence, taking all the above factors into consideration, he might be released by the team ahead of next year’s auction.
3. Prabhsimran Singh
Prabhsimran Singh. (Photo Source: Twitter)Prabhsimran Singh is a young wicketkeeper-batsman who was once again bought by Punjab Kings during the 2022 mega auction. With just two Indian wicket-keepers in their squad in the form of Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma, it was obvious that only one would get the chance. Jitesh grabbed the opportunity and performed really well throughout the season.
The hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman got one chance against SRH in the absence of skipper Mayank Agrawal, where he scored just 14 runs. He warmed the bench for almost the entirety of the season as Jitesh Sharma gained precedence in terms of the pecking order.
Punjab’s handling of Prabhsimran sent clear signs that the wicket-keeper is not a part of future plans. Instead, the team management will seek to go after an experienced Indian batter who could anchor an innings for the side in the middle overs.
