Punjab Kings blunder? 3 players they shouldn’t have released for IPL 2024 Auction

Punjab Kings (PBKS) is a franchise yet to secure an IPL title. Similar to another team they have disclosed their final list of released and retained players ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. While maintaining much of its core, including star foreign players such as Jonny Bairstow. They have also retained players like Liam Livingstone and Sikandar Raza. While the team have opted to part ways with one of its highly talked-about Indian talents.

Despite a successful auction leading up to the previous season, Punjab Kings had a disappointing performance ending in the lower half of the points table at the eighth position. They had only six wins in 14 league matches, and PBKS failed to make a substantial impact once again.

However, with a fully-fit Johnny Bairstow is slated to participate throughout the season and will be seen opening with Shikhar Dhawan. PBKS will certainly be aiming for a turnaround this time. However, letting go of young Indian players is certainly not a good option.

Also Check: GT Blunder? 3 Players They Shouldn’t Have Released for IPL 2024 Auction

Here are the 3 players PBKS should not have released:

3. Raj Angad Bawa

Raj Bawa in IPL (Source: Twitter)

A promising all-rounder who had limelight after a brilliant under-19 World Cup.  Bawa is an emerging all-rounder, considered a significant potential successor to Hardik Pandya in the Indian cricket team. This young talent has showcased impressive performances in all his matches to date.

The U/19 star was roped in by the PBKS franchise for a whopping amount of 2 Cr in the previous auction. Bawa sustained an injury in the 2023 edition of the IPL which ruled him out of the IPL 2023. In the two matches that he has played for the franchise, he has shown glimpses of a bright future.

2. Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Bhanuka Rajapaksa is an aggressive left-handed batter who has earned a spot as a crucial batter in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup squad in New Zealand. Living up to his reputation, he emerged as the top run-scorer for his country, amassing 253 runs. Rajapaksa draws a comparison between his batting style and that of Adam Gilchrist. Given such an event full performance, he was even roped by PBKS for 50 Lakhs in the IPL 2022 Auction. In the 13 games he has played for PBKS, he has scored runs at a strike rate of above 145. His finishing-the-innings capability along with Livingstone will be missed by the team.

1. Shahrukh Khan

Shahrukh Khan in IPL (Source: Twitter)

PBKS decided to release Shahrukh Khan before the retention deadline for the IPL 2024 Auction. Shahrukh had a three-season stint with the Kings, initially being purchased for INR 5.25 crores in the IPL 2021 Auction. Despite being released ahead of the IPL 2022 auction, he was later reacquired for a significant 9 crores in the mega auction. Unfortunately, Shahrukh couldn’t fulfill the expectations despite PBKS’s faith in him over the three seasons, leading to his release.

In the 33 matches that the powerful striker has played in IPL so far he has scored runs at a strike rate of 134.81.

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