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As cricket enthusiasts recover from the aftermath of India’s heart-wrenching World Cup loss, attention now turns to the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Teams are entering the critical phase of deciding which players to retain and release before the auction. The deadline for these decisions looms on November 26, 2023, with the mini-auction scheduled for December 19, 2023.
Punjab Kings’ unsettled journey
Punjab Kings (PBKS) finds itself under scrutiny for a series of setbacks, including lackluster performances and an unsettled squad. Despite these challenges, PBKS holds a substantial purse of INR 12.2 crores, setting the stage for strategic player releases that could potentially reshape the team dynamics for the better.
Four players PBKS might release ahead of IPL 2024 auctions:
1. Sam Curran
England’s versatile all-rounder, Sam Curran, commanded a record-breaking INR 18.5 crore during the IPL 2023 auctions by PBKS. Unfortunately, this hefty price tag did not translate into the desired performance for the Mohali-based franchise. In the previous season, Curran participated in 14 games, contributing only 276 runs with a lone half-century. His bowling performance was equally underwhelming, securing just 10 wickets at an unfavorable economy rate of 10.22. There are expectations that Punjab may opt to release Curran before the auctions, aiming to secure his services once again at a more reasonable cost.
2. Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Sri Lankan star Bhanuka Rajapaksa had a brief stint in IPL 2023, featuring in only 4 games before succumbing to an injury. He managed to score 71 runs, accompanied by a single fifty. Initially brought in by PBKS for INR 50 lakh in IPL 2022 and subsequently retained for the 2023 season, Rajapaksa’s form and fitness issues could lead to his potential release ahead of the IPL 2023 auction.
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3. Matthew Short
Australian opener Matthew Short faced a disappointing campaign in IPL 2023, playing just 6 matches and accumulating a mere 117 runs, with 36 as his highest individual score. Despite being acquired at his base price of INR 20 lakh, Short struggled to make a significant impact. As a result, PBKS might consider releasing him in preparation for the upcoming auctions.
4. Shahrukh Khan
During the IPL Auction 2023, Punjab Kings secured the services of the aggressive batter Shahrukh Khan for a substantial sum of INR 9 Crores. Having played 33 matches in his IPL career thus far, Shahrukh has accumulated 426 runs with an average of 20.29. In the previous season, he scored 156 runs in 14 matches, with an unbeaten 41 as his highest score. Given his considerable price tag, there is speculation that Punjab might opt to release Shahrukh, with intentions to re-acquire his services in the IPL 2024 auctions at a more economical price.
Financial arsenal
With a formidable purse of INR 12.2 crores, Punjab hold a strong position to strategically reshape its squad for the upcoming IPL season. The decisions made in the player retention and release process will undoubtedly influence the dynamics of the team as they prepare for IPL 2024.
