IPL 2024: Punjab Kings strongest predicted playing XI against Delhi Capitals

Punjab Kings (PBKS) will host Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match 2 of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). The much-awaited clash is scheduled to be contested at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mohali on March 23, Saturday.

Shikhar Dhawan will continue to captain PBKS while Rishabh Pant is set to make his return as DC skipper. The young wicketkeeper-batter has been out of action since December 2022 after being severely injured in a near-fatal car accident. Both sides, who are yet to clinch the silverware, look to exhibit a thrilling show despite having a poor campaign last year.

Click Here: PBKS vs DC Live Score, Match 2

Here's Punjab Kings' predicted XI against Delhi Capitals:

Openers: Shikhar Dhawan, Prabhsimran Singh

Punjab Kings will likely field the opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh. Dhawan has been a consistent run-scorer since the inaugural edition of the IPL. The 38-year-old was signed by PBKS for a whopping INR 8.25 crore during the 2022 auction. Notably, he holds the second position in the IPL most runs chart, having accumulated 6617 runs in 217 games, including two centuries, with a career-best 106*. He was also the leading run scorer for PBKS in the previous edition, amassing 373 runs in 11 games, averaging 41.44. The swashbuckling left-hander is expected to rack up more runs in the forthcoming game, given the wealth of experience under his belt.

Prabhsimran Singh, the wicketkeeper-batter, is known for his hard-hitting skills. The Patiala-based batter has had a decent campaign in 2023, finishing as the second leading run scorer for the side behind captain Dhawan. He has accumulated 358 runs from 14 games, including a century and half-century. He is expected to form a crucial partnership with Dhawan on the top. 

Also Check: IPL 2024 Orange Cap

Middle order: Jonny Bairstow, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Jitesh Sharma

PBKS' middle order will be bolstered by Jonny Bairstow and Harpreet Singh Bhatia. The England wicketkeeper-batter has joined the side in 2022 for a whopping INR 6.75 crore. The 34-year-old, a member of England’s 2019 World Cup-winning squad, is one of the cleanest strikers of the ball and will pose a greater challenge for the opposition. 

Harpreet, on the other hand, is expected to play a key role for PBKS in the middle. He has played only seven games for the side in the previous year and scored 96 at an average of 16.

Jitesh Sharma, who made his IPL debut in 2022 with Punjab Kings, will don gloves for the side in the 17th edition of IPL. He has so far featured in 26 matches and has accumulated 543 runs at an average of 25.86 with his highest score being 49* runs. He is anticipated to showcase excellent glovework and add crucial runs for the side.

All-rounders: Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran

Liam Livingstone is regarded as one of the hardest hitters in the England team. After playing for Rajasthan Royals for a couple of years, Livingstone was bought by PBKS for INR 11.50 crore during the 2022 auction. The 30-year-old hasn't played a lot of games for the national side in the T20 format. In the 2023 IPL, he scored 279 runs and picked up two wickets for the side. He is expected to come good for PBKS with both bat and ball.

Sam Curran, the star England all-rounder, bats left-handed and bowls fast seam. Having made his IPL debut in 2019, he has played a total of 46 matches and scored 613 runs at 24.52, including three half-centuries. The 25-year-old was the most expensive buy in history in the 2023 auction, having been bought by PBKS for a staggering INR 18.5 crore. In the 2023 IPL, he claimed 10 wickets and scored 276 runs for the Shikhar Dhawan-led side. He is anticipated to be a vital cog for the hosts when they take on DC.

Also Check: Punjab vs Delhi, Match 2 - MPL Opinio Prediction

Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

Punjab’s bowling attack has been bolstered by the likes of Kagiso Rabada, and the Indian trio of Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, and Arshdeep Singh. Harshal, who was the death bowling weapon of RCB, joined PBKS for a whopping INR 11.75 crore for the 2024 edition. He is expected to carry forward his form and will look to replicate his performance in the 2021 season, where he picked up 32 wickets and subsequently won the coveted Purple Cap. Apart from his bowling prowess, he is also a handy bat coming down the order.

After making waves in the Mumbai Indians team, Rahul Chahar joined PBKS in 2022 for INR 5.25 crore. The talented leg spinner will be Punjab's first-choice spinner in their lineup. He has so far picked up 22 wickets for PBKS in 27 games across two seasons. 

Kagiso Rabada will be leading Punjab's pace attack during the IPL 2024. The South African pace sensation, has been a prominent figure in IPL since making his debut in 2017. He has so far picked up 106 runs in 69 games at an average of 20.74 and an economy rate of 8.42. Given his outstanding figures in the T20 format, PBKS will be a force to reckon with in IPL 2024.

PBKS will have a lot of belief in India's left-arm medium fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh. The 25-year-old was the side's leading wicket-taker in the previous edition, having picked up 17 wickets in 14 games with best figures of 4/29. He recently impressed with the ball in India's second T20I against Afghanistan in Indore, claiming a three-wicket haul for 32 runs. The Madhya Pradesh-born cricketer has been in fine form and intends to succeed in the IPL 2024.

Also Check: IPL 2024 Purple Cap

PBKS' Predicted XI vs DC: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh