Punjab Kings will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against Delhi Capitals at their home ground Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Saturday. PBKS is yet to win an IPL title thus far and they will look to go all the way.

The Mohali-based franchise had won only six matches in the previous season and lost eight games. Thus, they could not qualify for the playoffs. Shikhar Dhawan, who is out of favour from the Indian team, will be determined to prove his mettle as a leader.

Strengths: PBKS has a strong batting unit as they have batters like Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, and Jitesh Sharma. The 2014 finalists had come up with an aggressive batting approach in the previous season and they will look to continue the same show.

Weaknesses: While PBKS have a decent fast bowling attack as they have bowlers like Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran and Harshal Patel, they don’t have much quality in their spin battery. The franchise has spinners like Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Liam Livingstone and it could be their Achilles Heel in the upcoming season.

PBKS probable playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Rishi Dhawan/ Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh.

PBKS IPL 2024 SQUAD

Wicketkeepers: Jonny Bairstow (ENG), Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma.

Batters: Shikhar Dhawan, Harpreet Bhatia, Rilee Rossouw (SA), Shashank Singh.

All-rounders: Liam Livingstone (ENG), Atharva Taide, Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran (ENG), Sikandar Raza (ZIM), Shivam Singh, Chris Woakes (ENG), Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Singh, Tanay Thyagarajan, Harshal Patel.

Bowlers: Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada (SA), Nathan Ellis (AUS), Rahul Chahar, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Prince Choudhary.