PBKS look a like a team who have a million problems ahead of the IPL retentions on Friday. They don’t have a solid batter who looks worth y of being retained for INR 18 Cr, 14 Cr or even 11 Cr, and then a heap of players, who should be there, but not for much. The likes of Ashutosh Sharma, Shashank Singh, and Harpreet Brar…they all ought to be in the team, albeit not for much.
But it is Punjab Kings’ bowlers, who are good enough not only to be retained, but to be retained for big bucks. There is India’s Arshdeep Singh, who is one of the finest T20I bowlers in the world, and then South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, who is perhaps the most underrated and the best all-format bowler after Jasprit Bumrah.
Kagiso Rabada & Arshdeep Singh in a Glance
Just alone for PBKS, Arshdeep has picked up 76 wickets in 65 games at an economy of 9.02. Rabada, in just two seasons has 41 wickets in 30 matches, and an economy of 8.93. Last year too, when PBKS team failed collectively, they managed to do well still. Rabada had 11 wickets in as many matches. On the other hand, 19 wickets from 14 matches, marked Arshdeep’s season.
It is a no brainer, that in IPL, a mediocre batting unit can still make a successful team, while a mediocre bowling unit is bound to bring trouble for the franchise. The management will have to create a team around these two players, or once again, the team will most likely have a poor season.
For the record, this season Punjab also had Rahul Chahar in their ranks, who had an ordinary season. Then there was Harshal Patel as well, who could also be looked at as a potential IPL Retention.
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