With just one final appearance in 15 years, the PBKS is arguably the most disappointing franchise in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. The team has made the playoffs twice in its IPL career, despite having a number of big names on its roster.
They won only seven of their 14 matches and finished the 2022 season in sixth place.
PBKS has never established itself as a distinct entity as a result of the squad’s and support staff’s constant cutting and dicing for glory.
In preparation for the upcoming season, the team has once more undergone a number of personnel changes as the franchise moves forward on its path toward achieving performance consistency.
Mayank Agarwal, one of PBKS’ most important players who also captained the team last year, has been let go, and Shikhar Dhawan has taken over as captain. The Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza and Sam Curran were also purchased by the franchise for 18.5 crores at the mini-auction the year before.
By appointing Trevor Bayliss as their head coach in place of Anil Kumble, Punjab also made positive changes to their support staff. Bayliss was the head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders during their glorious title runs in 2012 and 2014, as well as the Sri Lankan team that reached the World Cup final in 2011.
Charl Langeveldt and Sunil Joshi will serve as the fast bowling and spin bowling coaches, respectively, while Wasim Jaffer will continue to be the batting coach.
PBKS’s unstable batting lineup, which has resulted in a lack of clarity among the players, has been one of the obstacles they have faced over the years. Since Mayank left, the team might start with Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, their explosive stars.
The addition of Raza is likely to enhance the middle-order options. He and Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Shahrukh Khan could form a middle-order core.
In addition, the PBKS think tank will consider who to bat at No. 3 to bridge the gap between the experienced opening duo of Dhawan and Bairstow and the explosive finishers they have available.
Here, we take a gander at the potential players who could ascend to take responsibility for a significant No. 3 spot in the PBKS batting order.
#1 Bhanuka Rajapaksha
Given that he played there for PBKS last season, the swashbuckling Sri Lankan left-hander Bhanuka Rajapaksha should be the obvious choice for No. 3. Even though he only batted at No. 3 for eight games last season, he scored runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 162 and made several important contributions to the team’s cause. However, his average was only 25.
The majority of batters are expected to have an impact on a match’s outcome through strike rates rather than the number of runs scored due to the diminishing role of sheet anchors in T20 cricket.
In that sense, Rajapaksha would be the ideal opponent for Dhawan and Bairstow’s opening duo. By keeping his foot on the accelerator, he can assist in accelerating the pace.
Additionally, Rajapaksha adds a left-handed bat to a lineup that, without Dhawan, might be full of right-handed batters. If the PBKS management chooses other options for the four overseas players, Rajapaksha’s batting at No. 3 is the only problem.
#2 Prabhsimran Singh
The wicketkeeper-batsman, Prabhsimran Singh, has been with PBKS since the 2019 IPL season. However, the 22-year-old has only participated in six IPL matches over the course of four seasons since 2019 to demonstrate his abilities.
However, his overall T20 statistics are impressive, with a strike rate of 138 and an average of 37 in 41 matches. He was one of the best players in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which just ended. He batted at one drop for Punjab most of the time and averaged 53 at a strike rate of 141.
Having an Indian batter with domestic experience at No. 3 recently would go a long way toward resolving the team combination issues because the side’s overseas options vary depending on the conditions and team combinations. Prabhsimran, a wicketkeeper, will also offer PBKS a wide range of selection options.
# 3 Liam Livingstone
One of the youngest T20 cricket superstars, Liam Livingstone was one of the few bright spots in Punjab’s subpar 2022 season. Purchased by PBKS in the 2022 closeout, Livingstone illuminated IPL 2022, scoring a fortunate 437 runs at a normal of 36 and a rankling strike pace of 182.
The destructive right-hander scored four half-centuries and made several other significant contributions for the team despite batting middle order. Livingstone’s role this season may be more as a finisher, but it might be worth it to give him a chance at number three.
Livingstone averages a remarkable 38 runs per innings at a strike rate of 150 in 18 innings despite receiving little playing time at number three in T20s. As a result, the management of PBKS might want to think about having Livingstone bat at No. 3, which would give the big man time to settle in before he hits big hits in the middle and last overs.