PBKS Playing XI vs CSK: Jitesh Sharma, Vaibhav Arora to make debuts, still no Bairstow for Punjab

PBKS Playing XI v CSK: Captain Mayank Agarwal will have a huge selection headache as the Punjab Kings prepare for their game against the Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. Having succumbed to defeat against KKR, the Kings will look to bounce back in style and have been strengthened by the availability of Jonny Bairstow. However, Agarwal will have to make a huge call on how to fit the Englishman in the lineup for the game. Follow all IPL 2022, PBKS vs CSK Live updates on Insidesport.in

Also Read: CSK vs PBKS Live Score: Will CSK find their first win of the season as STERN CHALLENGE of PBKS awaits? Follow IPL 2022 Live Updates

PBKS Playing XI vs CSK: BIG DILEMMA for Mayank Agarwal with Jonny Bairstow- Who drops out? – Follow LIVE Updates

Punjab Kings welcome back Jonny Bairstow to their side after the Englishman missed the first couple of games due to international duty. Bairstow was with the England side on tour to the West Indies and completed his quarantine on Saturday, a day before the CSK clash. A player of Bairstow’s stature should be drafted into the XI right away, but Mayank Agarwal will face a huge dilemma in who to drop from the side.

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Bhanuka Rajapaksa has been the surprise package for Punjab Kings this season and his form in the first two games has made it difficult for Mayank Agarwal to exclude him from the XI with the arrival of Jonny Bairstow. The Sri Lankan was considered a stop-gap for the Englishman at No. 3, but has impressed with scores of 43 and 31, with an overall strike rate in excess of 200. Rajapaksa has added an altogether new dimension to the batting line up and has been adept behind the stumps in both games.

PBKS Playing XI vs CSK: BIG DILEMMA for Mayank Agarwal with Jonny Bairstow- Who drops out? – Follow LIVE Updates

Kagiso Rabada made his debut in the last game and the South African was at his very best for the Kings. Not only did Rabada impress with the ball, but he also chipped in with a valuable 25 down the order as Punjab scampered to a respectable total.

Odean Smith hasn’t had much going his way with the ball conceding at an Eco rate of 15 in the two games but remains a handy bowling option and a big hitter down the order. It was Smith’s 8-ball 25 not out that saw Punjab over the line in a tricky chase of 205 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Liam Livingstone, the IPL’s most expensive foreigner bought in the auction, hasn’t justified his price yet, and Mayank Agarwal could be tempted to bring Bairstow in for his fellow countryman. Livingstone does offer an option with the ball but has failed to impress with that either, meaning the hard-hitting middle-order bat is at the greatest risk of being dropped from the XI.

Probable PBKS playing XI vs CSK

1. Mayank Agarwal

2. Shikhar Dhawan

3. Bhanuka Rajapaksa

4. Jonny Bairstow

5. Rishi Dhawan

6. Shah Rukh Khan

7. Odean Smith

8. Harpreet Brar

9. Kagiso Rabada

10. Rahul Chahar

11. Arshdeep Singh.

PBKS Playing XI vs CSK: BIG DILEMMA for Mayank Agarwal with Jonny Bairstow- Who drops out? – Follow LIVE Updates

Another potential change could be Punjab Kings dropping under 19 star Raj Bawa in favour of the experienced Rishi Dhawan. Bawa looked out of his depth against KKR with the bat while Agarwal was reluctant to throw the ball at him in batting friendly conditions. Dhawan meanwhile could play the role of a floater perfectly, and his experience could very well be handy for the franchise.

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