Punjab Kings predicted XI for IPL 2021

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) were among the more entertaining teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year, but fell narrowly short of the playoffs.

After having made a number of expensive purchases in the IPL 2021 auction, PBKS will come into the tournament with renewed confidence as they attempt to win the title for the first time in their history.

PBKS had a massive purse to spend in the auction, and they spent a significant portion of it to beef up their pace attack. Big Bash League stars Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith were signed for a combined INR 22 crores, while overseas all-rounders Moises Henriques and Fabian Allen also made their way to the team.

In the Indian category, PBKS signed explosive Tamil Nadu batsman Shahrukh Khan for a big sum, followed by Jalaj Saxena, Utkarsh Singh and Saurabh Kumar. #1-ranked T20I batsman in the world, Dawid Malan, was the team's final acquisition at his base price.

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PBKS' predicted playing XI for IPL 2021

This year's IPL is still months away, but we attempt to predict what PBKS' ideal playing XI will look like.

PBKS' squad for IPL 2021: KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Darshan Nalkande, Harpreet Brar, Mandeep Singh, Mayank Agarwal, Mohd. Shami, M Ashwin, Nicholas Pooran, Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Ishan Porel, Ravi Bishnoi, Chris Jordan, Prabhsimran Singh, Shahrukh Khan, Jalaj Saxena, Utkarsh Singh, Saurabh Kumar, Fabian Allen, Moises Henriques, Riley Meredith, Jhye Richardson, Dawid Malan

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Openers: KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal pipped Gayle to an opening spot in last year's IPL

Although PBKS have perhaps the greatest opening batsman in the history of T20 cricket in their team (Chris Gayle), they have chosen not to break the partnership between Mayank Agarwal and skipper KL Rahul.

The duo has opened the batting for their state for quite a while now, and has an excellent understanding of each other's game. Agarwal and Rahul were superb in IPL 2020, and they'll look to get their team off to great starts once again.

Although he has someone to hand the gloves to in Nicholas Pooran, Rahul should be behind the stumps for PBKS, just like he was last year.

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Middle Order: Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan

Christopher Henry Gayle has been forced to bat at No. 3 for PBKS

Coming in at No. 3 will be the Universe Boss Chris Gayle. The big West Indian was the talisman for PBKS in IPL 2020, and his inclusion was the catalyst behind their late run for a playoff spot.

Gayle was in nightmare form in the recently conducted Abu Dhabi T10, but played a typically dominant innings towards the end of the tournament. He may not be entirely comfortable batting at No. 3, but that's a sacrifice he'll have to make for the good of the team.

The No. 4 spot was occupied by Nicholas Pooran towards the end of IPL 2020, and this should continue this year as well. Pooran has played a couple of knocks to remember in every competition he has taken part in, but he's on the lookout for consistency to be called a truly great player.

PBKS have a couple of selection dilemmas when it comes to the middle order. Dawid Malan is the #1-ranked T20I batsman in the world, but it will be difficult for the team management to fit three overseas batsmen in the playing XI after splurging on foreign fast bowlers in the auction.

Moreover, Malan's ideal batting position is in the top 4, and moving Pooran down to No. 5 might minimize the Caribbean batsman's impact. PBKS have a number of young Indian batsmen like Deepak Hooda, Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan and Shahrukh Khan, and backing one or more of this quartet might serve them well in the long run.

Hooda and Shahrukh might be the front-runners to make up the rest of the middle order. While Hooda offers an extra off-spinning option, Shahrukh has the power and finishing ability to add great value to the team batting at No. 6.

Hooda's disciplinary issues with Baroda might be a roadblock for PBKS, but the situation might be different by the time IPL 2021 rolls around. Shahrukh, on the other hand, was signed for a hefty amount for an uncapped player, and the management clearly has a lot of faith in him.

Sarfaraz's IPL career is stuck in the mud at the moment, while Mandeep is perhaps better suited to the top order.

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All-rounder: Jhye Richardson

Jhye Richardson was the leading wicket-taker in this year's BBL

PBKS are woefully short of all-rounders. Despite having over INR 50 crores in their purse ahead of the IPL 2021 auction, the team management walked away with only Moises Henriques and Fabian Allen.

Jhye Richardson is capable with the bat, but it's a bit of a stretch to call him an all-rounder. The fast bowler was the leading wicket-taker in this year's Big Bash League, and he has been signed to give Mohammed Shami some support.

Richardson will bat at No. 7 in this XI, and he'll need to perform far better than he has done with the bat in the recent past.

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Bowlers: Chris Jordan, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Murugan Ashwin

Mohammed Shami has relatively more support this year

If PBKS aren't comfortable with Richardson batting as high as No. 7, they could opt to field Moises Henriques instead of Chris Jordan. But that would leave Henriques as the third pace option, and with the pitch in Mohali fairly helpful for the quick bowlers, PBKS might choose to go down a different route.

Jordan, who overcame a poor run in form to pick up a bagful of wickets in the latter half of IPL 2020, might be the man to make the XI. New signing Riley Meredith has express pace, but Jordan will be needed to add weight to a weak lower-middle order.

The Englishman is followed by the Indian trio of Shami, Murugan Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi. The two leg-spinners excelled under the watchful eye of Anil Kumble in IPL 2020, and they'll want to build on their superb performances from last year.

PBKS have the option of fielding young left-armer Arshdeep Singh instead of Jordan, and this would allow them to play either Henriques or Malan in the middle order. But this would further weaken the batting lineup, which is already a batsman or two short.

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PBKS' predicted playing XI for IPL 2021: KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan, Jhye Richardson, Chris Jordan, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Murugan Ashwin