Punjab Kings gamers in the course of the web apply session forward of the IPL T20 cricket match towards Mumbai Indians on the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Punjab, on April 17, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Moorthy RV
Punjab Kings’ influential skipper Shikhar Dhawan is at present undergoing rehabilitation after struggling a shoulder damage, the staff’s spin-bowling coach Sunil Joshi stated on Wednesday.
Sam Curran stood in as Punjab Kings captain in Dhawan’s absence of their match towards Rajasthan Royals.
While he is set to overlook Thursday’s match towards Mumbai Indians right here, Dhawan additionally stays uncertain for the April 21 sport towards Gujarat Titans.
“Regarding Shikhar, the medical team will update. As for now, he is under rehab,” Joshi stated on the pre-match press convention.
Dhawan hasn’t had a good time with the bat in IPL 2024, however is nonetheless Kings’ highest run-getter at present with 152 runs from 5 innings, scoring at a strike price of 125.61.
Joshi additionally stated it is excessive time the top-order batters discover their groove and elevate the staff that is struggling on the seventh place with simply two wins and 4 losses.
The solely brilliant spot for PBKS this season has been resolute shows from their unsung Indian gamers Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, who each bat decrease within the order and have needed to make up for the shortcomings on the prime greater than as soon as.
“See it’s always like bowlers win tournaments, batsmen win matches. And our bowling unit is definitely doing well consistently in all the areas. It’s time our batters take responsibility,” Joshi stated.
“We have addressed the areas where we needed to look at, to score runs. And also coming into this wicket, it’s a challenge for batters also.
“Straightway, in contrast to different wickets in India, this is a difficult wickets for each batter, particularly for the guests, it’ll be a problem as a result of the character of bounce is fully completely different. So, it is benefit for us, I suppose,” the former India left-arm spinner added.
Jonny Bairstow, Dhawan’s opening partner, has had a rough time too, scoring just 96 runs in six innings, while Prabhsimran Singh (119 runs in six innings) and Jitesh Sharma (106 runs in six innings) have struggled for consistency and impact also.
With selection for the World Cup squad on the horizon, Jitesh, who is averaging 17.66, would be under the pump.
“In T20s, whenever you undergo the primary half of the match you’ll perceive what kind of an method that you must take a look at.
“At the same time you need to look at the target and whether you can approach it in a different way to approach that target because we have done well in the middle and we have had a great finish.
“Two new boys — Shashank and Ashutos — have chipped in. It’s time for the top-order to get into the groove and do a good job for us.”
PBKS will have to find more support for their overseas bowling duo of Curran (126 runs and 8 wickets) and Kagiso Rabada (9). The Indian pair of Arshdeep Singh (9) and Harshal Patel (7) have both been easy targets for batters.
“In T20 something can occur, even the final over what you noticed yesterday (between KKR and RR), however nonetheless, they’ll all come again stronger.
“They know the conditions better, especially (Harpreet) Brar, because he has played and he plays domestic cricket in the same ground. He understands, and hopefully, he will come back stronger,” Joshi stated.
He added, “Each and every game is important and always our thought process is that we should strive to do well. If we look at the our last three games, they lasted till the last over, fifth ball of last over. So, it can be anybody’s match, especially in this format.
“Our endeavour is to at all times take the match deep. Definitely, now we have not executed properly in batting in energy play, and now we have addressed that difficulty.”
