IPL 2024 : SWOT Analysis of Punjab Kings (PBKS) squad

The Punjab Kings, one of the oldest franchises in the IPL, are yet to claim the coveted championship trophy. While they often start strong, their momentum seems to fizzle out mid-season. They have consistently failed to qualify for the playoffs after the 2014 season but in 2024, they will look to turn the tables under Shikhar Dhawan’s captaincy.

PBKS spent INR 24.95 crore in the 2024 IPL auction to secure the services of eight players. Among these eight players, some eminent names are Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, and Rilee Rossouw. Punjab Kings aimed to address its glaring weakness from the previous season, death bowling, by acquiring Harshal Patel for a substantial ₹11.75 crore. 

After the auction, the PBKS squad is looking stronger, so let’s look at the SWOT analysis of the Punjab Kings squad for the IPL 2024.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) Strengths

Punjab Kings have a lot of illustrious batters in their line-up. Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Rossouw, Sikandar Raza, and Sam Curran are some prominent names who will look to rock the tournament with their batting brilliance. 

When it comes to hitting those sweet sixes and boundaries, the PBKS have some serious firepower in their batting line-up. They have power hitters like Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone who are capable of delivering match-finishing moments to the team, with their belligerent batting attitude.

PBKS strong suit lies in the bowling department with plenty of options in the pace unit. They already have Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, and Sam Curran on their team. At the auction, they invested a heavy amount in Harshal Patel. The speedster, with over 11 years of experience in the cash-rich league, can effectively utilize his vast experience and impressive skills to turn the tide.

Besides this, the Punjab Kings have some impressive all-rounders who can turn the game on its head in a flash.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) Weaknesses

Despite the lack of quality in the spin department, the PBKS team management did not acquire experienced spinners in the auction. While young blood can inject some fresh energy into a team, it can also lead to moments of inexperience on the field. The Punjab Kings might need to keep an eye on their greenhorns and ensure they rise to the occasion when the pressure is on.

The Kings have struggled with inconsistent performances from their foreign batters. Overseas players like Sam Curran, Johnny Bairstow, and Liam Livingston have displayed inconsistency during the last season, which can be a big concern to Punjab Kings this season as well. 

Every team has its fatal weakness, and for the Punjab Kings, it might also be the lack of depth in certain positions. Injuries or poor form can quickly expose vulnerabilities, so it's crucial for the squad to have backup plans in place.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) Opportunities

The franchise has placed their faith in captain Shikhar Dhawan to lead them to their maiden IPL title. Dhawan has a chance to redeem himself and guide the Kings past their mid-season slump that has plagued them in the past. Also Jonny Bairstow’s comeback may help PBKS to be impactful in 2024. The experienced English veteran, along with skipper Shikhar Dhawan, can contribute exceptional numbers to the team with his aggressive batting style.

Apart from this, PBKS was a team with the best-emerging talent in IPL 2023, with players like Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Atharva Taide scoring a good amount of runs. Punjab has young talent this season as well in players like Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, and young spinner Tanay Thyagarajan, who can make the most of the opportunity and can shine on a bigger stage. This season presents a chance for youngsters to make a significant impact and embark on a promising career.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) Threats

Punjab Kings has numerous England players who did not perform well in the 2023 World Cup. Bairstow, Livingstone, Curran, and Woakes struggled in Indian conditions. The overreliance on England players might cost PBKS in the 2024 IPL season.

PBKS may need to undergo extensive experimentation in their initial games to fully comprehend their optimal team. The IPL's fast-paced games necessitate teams to establish momentum early on. But given the lack of balance and depth in the squad, there is a threat of them having to cope with a few setbacks early on in the season.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) full squad for IPL 2024

Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan(c), Harpreet Bhatia, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Shivam Singh, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Singh, Tanay Thyagarajan, Harshal Patel, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Prince Choudhary.

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) will commence on the 22nd of March, 2024. Punjab Kings will face Delhi Capitals in their first fixture on March 23 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Punjab.

Cover Credit - IPL Official