Punjab Kings (PBKS) have been the most inconsistent team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they are the only team (since 2008) that qualified for the playoff stage only a couple of times in their 15 seasons of the tournament. Despite having immense experience and quality players, they struggled to advance to the playoff round in the last edition too. Under their new skipper Mayank Agarwal, they tried to deliver something impactful in the competition. However, of 14 games, with seven victories and an equal number of defeats, they left the competition on dismal note.&nbsp;

In November last year, the franchise released some players which included some important names such as Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, and Mayank Agarwal too who couldn’t do wonders with his bat and captaincy. At the mini-auction, they participated with their remaining purse of INR 32.2 crore in which they spent more than a half sum on Sam Curran. Acquiring the English all-rounder at a hefty price of 18.5 crore, the Kings grabbed a lot of attention. Now, in the 2023 season, they will expect the youngster to be influential with both bat and ball to help the Kings lift their first trophy. Along with Curran, they also roped in some young Indian cricketers who are influential in the domestic circuit. Talking more about that here are-

Starting playing XI of Punjab Kings (PBKS) after IPL 2023 mini-auction

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/babar-azam-smashes-most-international-centuries-in-2022-surpasses-jonny-bairstows-record/" title="Jonny Bairstow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jonny Bairstow</a> has won a lot of games for England with his aggressive&nbsp;batting attitude. Appearing for Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the first time in the last edition, Jonny Bairstow delivered a couple of half-centuries in which one came against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a winning cause. However, his overall performance was below-par as he could amass 253 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 144.57.

Despite failing to do well for the team, Punjab believed in the English cricketer by retaining him for the upcoming edition. Last year, he played only three T20Is and scored 147 runs at a strike rate of 141.34. He couldn’t participate in T20 World Cup 2022 due to a freak injury which he got while playing golf.

In the initial months of 2023, he might make a comeback in international cricket which is positive news for Punjab Kings. His presence will be vital for his IPL franchise also to vitalise the batting line-up. So far, he has featured in 39 IPL games and notched up 1,291 runs at a sensational strike rate of 142.65.

After Mayank Agarwal’s exit, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/old-video-of-shikhar-dhawan-advising-rishabh-pant-to-drive-carefully-resurfaces/" title="Shikhar Dhawan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shikhar Dhawan</a> has been appointed the captain of Punjab Kings for the 2023 IPL. His experience and potential will be crucial for the franchise to have a successful season ahead. Last season, he looked fine with his bat scoring 460 runs in 14 games, with three half-centuries.

In the league, the veteran has immense experience as he played for franchises such as Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) from 2008-2021. Last year, Punjab Kings (PBKS) invested INR 8.25 crore at the mega auction to get his services. Dhawan displayed fine shows as an India captain in 2022 with series wins against West Indies and South Africa.

Witnessing his impressive performances as a skipper in a blue jersey, the Kings handed him the captaincy mantle. Now, the southpaw will look to prove the franchise’s decision right by winning the first title for it with his batting and leadership skills.

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/rahul-tewatia-shahrukh-khan-have-skills-but-need-to-be-far-more-consistent-saba-karim-on-developing-new-finishers-for-india/" title="Shahrukh Khan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shahrukh Khan </a>grabbed the limelight when he was grabbed by Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the 2022 mega auction at a colossal price of INR 9.00 crore. Witnessing his match-finish ability in the 2021 season, the Kings didn’t hesitate to splurge money on him again. Playing eight games in the 2022 edition, the youngster scored only 117 runs at a dismal strike rate of 108.33.

On the PBKS retention list released in November, he was included despite failing to provide solid batting numbers to the franchise. In the recently concluded domestic tournaments Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy too, he struggled to be among the runs.

In the upcoming IPL edition, the franchise will look for some fine knocks from him. Trusting his power-hitting ability, he will be given charge to serve the team as a lower middle-order batter to finish games. In last year’s IPL game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), he batted at number three and showed confidence with his innings of 19 runs off 10 balls with two fours and a maximum. Noting that display, the franchise might assign him to bat in the top order too.

Last year, at the mega auction, PBKS bought the explosive English batter, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/pakistan-vs-england-mark-wood-set-to-return-for-the-second-test-to-replace-injured-liam-livingstone/" title="Liam Livingstone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Liam Livingstone</a>, at a huge amount of INR 11.5 crore. In return, he showed his efficiency with the bat notching up 437 runs in 14 games at a stellar strike rate of 182.08. In the forthcoming edition, he will be expected to strengthen the PBKS batting line-up with his aggressive playing style.

In the last season, Livingstone played as a top-order batter batting at number four but in the team’s hour of need, he could emerge as a finisher too with his match-finishing skills. For his national side England, Livingstone has won a lot of T20I matches with his fierce batting style.

As a bowler too, he has the capability to contribute to the team. Last year, he took six wickets for PBKS but an expensive average of 8.78. This time, the franchise would expect him to improve his bowling figures too.

Noting <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/u19-world-cup-2022-all-about-the-player-of-the-final-raj-bawas-rich-sporting-background/" title="Raj Bawa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Raj Bawa</a>’s fabulous all-round performances for India under-19 cricket team in under-19 World Cup and ACC under-19 World Cup, PBKS bought him at INR two crore at the 2022 mega auction. However, he couldn’t do anything special for the team, scoring only 11 runs in the couple of games he got in the season.

In November, the Kings showed faith in Bawa again and included him on their retention list. This time, the youngster might be trusted by the Kings to deliver his best to the franchise and become a credible face with his all-round performances. In the upcoming competition, he could be given the responsibility to reinforce the team with his all-round performances.

In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022-23, he tried to regain his form by amassing 78 runs and three scalps in four games. For PBKS, he could do better in the 2023 season counting on his talent and potential.&nbsp;

Vidarbha batter <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-have-been-a-huge-fan-of-sourav-ganguly-jitesh-sharma-on-wearing-jersey-number-99/" title="Jitesh Sharma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jitesh Sharma</a> got a chance to play for PBKS last year after getting sold at the 2022 mega auction at INR 20 lakh. Racking up 234 runs in 12 games at a fine strike rate of 163.63, he exuded confidence with his batting. Playing as a lower middle-order batter, he displayed his talent and proved his efficiency.

With his incredible performance, he made it to the PBKS retention list easily to be a part of the franchise’s 2023 campaign again. Playing for Vidarbha in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022-23, Sharma showcased his power again by hitting 224 runs in 10 matches at a spectacular strike rate of 175.00.&nbsp;

Witnessing his excellent numbers with the bat in 2022, the franchise might not hesitate in providing him chances in playing XI in the next season. For the 29-year-old cricketer, this season might come out as a perfect opportunity to get recognised as a remarkable wicketkeeper-batter.

For <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/ipl-auction-2023-chris-gayle-opens-up-on-record-breaking-bidding-of-sam-curran-cameron-green-ben-stokes/" title="Sam Curran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Curran</a>, 2022 was the best year of his career as he became the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup 2022. The English all-rounder picked up 13 wickets in six matches at a brilliant economy of 6.52. In the recently held IPL mini-auction, his hard work paid off as he became the most expensive player in the history of the league by getting signed at INR 18.5 crore.

After four years, he will return to the franchise again after playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2020 and 2021. Last year, he stayed away from the tournament due to rehabilitation from a back injury. This time, he will make his comeback special by delivering some great figures to his team with both bat and ball.&nbsp;

The 24-year-old has delivered some match-winning moments to PBKS and CSK, but talking about his overall performance, he has taken 32 wickets in 32 matches at a high economy of 9.21. This season, he will look to improve his figures by doing wonders with the ball in the upcoming season.

Witnessing <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mi-vs-pbks-dewald-brevis-smokes-rahul-chahar-for-four-straight-sixes/" title="Rahul Chahar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rahul Chahar</a>’s disciplined bowling for Mumbai Indians (MI) in previous IPL editions, Punjab Kings (PBKS) roped the youngster into their squad at INR 5.25 crore. Appearing in a PBKS jersey, he showed his magic again with his wicket-taking and economical bowling. In 13 games, he showcased his bowling skills and grabbed 14 wickets at an economy of 7.71.&nbsp; &nbsp; With these numbers, he also became the second-leading wicket-taker for Punjab in the tournament. In the forthcoming season, the franchise would expect him to deliver better numbers and help the team to grab the maiden title. In the recently played couple of domestic competitions, he looked excellent with the ball.

Bagging eight wickets in seven games at an economy of 7.23 in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022-23, he came out as the second-leading wicket-taker for his team in the competition. Participating in five matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022-23, he was magnificent with the ball notching up nine wickets at a superb economy of 4.34.

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021-how-anil-kumbles-advice-helped-harpreet-brar-bag-wickets-of-virat-kohli-ab-de-villiers-and-glenn-maxwell/" title="Harpreet Brar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harpreet Brar</a> delivered an eye-catching bowling performance for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2021 with an amazing bowling spell against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The youngster dismissed three batters of RCB which included Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers. For his match-winning bowling display, he also received the Player of the Match award.

Delivering this notable performance, he won the trust of Punjab Kings (PBKS). At the mega auction in 2022, he was sold at a huge amount of INR 3.80 crore. The left-arm spinner got five games in the last edition of the league and took four scalps at an economy of 9.12. The 27-year-old found a spot in the 2023 team after getting retained by the franchise in November last year.

This year, he will carry the responsibility to reinforce the spin attack of the team with Rahul Chahar. Going through his recent outings in domestic competitions, it could be said that the Punjab bowler is gearing up to solidify his IPL franchise with his superb bowling potential.

For<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/icc-announce-nominees-for-mens-emerging-cricketer-of-the-year-arshdeep-singh-sole-indian-on-the-list/" title="Arshdeep Singh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Arshdeep Singh</a>, 2023 was a splendid year as he made his T20I and ODI debuts for India. The pacer also got a chance to play in a couple of marquee events such as the Asia Cup 2022 and ICC T20 World Cup 2022. Grabbing the opportunities with both hands, he came up with marvellous bowling figures.&nbsp;

Last year, before the mega auction, he was retained by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) along with Mayank Agarwal at his base price of INR 4 crore. In return, he took 10 wickets in 14 games at an economy rate of 7.70. Considering his capability and talent, it could be said that the young gun could’ve done better.&nbsp;

This year, he will play the fifth season for PBKS as he was retained by the franchise in November 2022. With his lethal swing bowling, he will look to choke the opponents to bring joy to the faces of the franchise fans. He will be supported by Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, and Rahul Chahar to fortify the bowling attack of the team.&nbsp;

At the 2022 mega auction, Punjab Kings (PBKS) bought <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/aus-vs-sa-mcg-spectators-hilariously-imitate-kagiso-rabada-as-he-warms-up-near-boundary-rope/" title="Kagiso Rabada" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kagiso Rabada</a> at a whopping sum of INR 9.25 crore. Leading the bowling attack of his new franchise, he delivered above-par bowling displays with 23 wickets in 13 contests at an economy rate of 8.45. With his phenomenal figures, he comfortably found a spot in the franchise’s retention list.

In the T20 World Cup 2022, he struggled with the ball hunting only two batters in five matches at an economy of 9.43. But looking at his reputation and talent, he can’t be written off to be an impactful bowler in any tournament. This year, his contribution will be crucial for PBKS to have an amazing journey in the cash-rich league.&nbsp;

The 27-year-old has a glorifying bowling record in the league as he has trapped 99 batters in 63 games at an economy of 8.63. Going through these massive figures, PBKS will bank on him to lead their bowling attack with Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, and Rahul Chahar.&nbsp;

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have been the most inconsistent team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they are the only team (since 2008) that qualified for the playoff stage only a couple of times in their 15 seasons of the tournament. Despite having immense experience and quality players, they struggled to advance to the playoff round in the last edition too. Under their new skipper Mayank Agarwal, they tried to deliver something impactful in the competition. However, of 14 games, with seven victories and an equal number of defeats, they left the competition on dismal note.&nbsp;
In November last year, the franchise released some players which included some important names such as Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, and Mayank Agarwal too who couldn’t do wonders with his bat and captaincy. At the mini-auction, they participated with their remaining purse of INR 32.2 crore in which they spent more than a half sum on Sam Curran. Acquiring the English all-rounder at a hefty price of 18.5 crore, the Kings grabbed a lot of attention. Now, in the 2023 season, they will expect the youngster to be influential with both bat and ball to help the Kings lift their first trophy. Along with Curran, they also roped in some young Indian cricketers who are influential in the domestic circuit. Talking more about that here are-
<h3>Starting playing XI of Punjab Kings (PBKS) after IPL 2023 mini-auction</h3>
<h3>1. Jonny Bairstow</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1672312912593_Shikhar-Dhawan-and-Jonny-Bairstow.jpeg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/babar-azam-smashes-most-international-centuries-in-2022-surpasses-jonny-bairstows-record/" title="Jonny Bairstow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jonny Bairstow</a> has won a lot of games for England with his aggressive&nbsp;batting attitude. Appearing for Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the first time in the last edition, Jonny Bairstow delivered a couple of half-centuries in which one came against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a winning cause. However, his overall performance was below-par as he could amass 253 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 144.57.
Despite failing to do well for the team, Punjab believed in the English cricketer by retaining him for the upcoming edition. Last year, he played only three T20Is and scored 147 runs at a strike rate of 141.34. He couldn’t participate in T20 World Cup 2022 due to a freak injury which he got while playing golf.
In the initial months of 2023, he might make a comeback in international cricket which is positive news for Punjab Kings. His presence will be vital for his IPL franchise also to vitalise the batting line-up. So far, he has featured in 39 IPL games and notched up 1,291 runs at a sensational strike rate of 142.65.

<h3>2. Shikhar Dhawan (Captain)</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1672570630139_Shikhar-Dhawan.jpeg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
After Mayank Agarwal’s exit, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/old-video-of-shikhar-dhawan-advising-rishabh-pant-to-drive-carefully-resurfaces/" title="Shikhar Dhawan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shikhar Dhawan</a> has been appointed the captain of Punjab Kings for the 2023 IPL. His experience and potential will be crucial for the franchise to have a successful season ahead. Last season, he looked fine with his bat scoring 460 runs in 14 games, with three half-centuries.
In the league, the veteran has immense experience as he played for franchises such as Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) from 2008-2021. Last year, Punjab Kings (PBKS) invested INR 8.25 crore at the mega auction to get his services. Dhawan displayed fine shows as an India captain in 2022 with series wins against West Indies and South Africa.
Witnessing his impressive performances as a skipper in a blue jersey, the Kings handed him the captaincy mantle. Now, the southpaw will look to prove the franchise’s decision right by winning the first title for it with his batting and leadership skills.

<h3>3. Shahrukh Khan</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Shahrukh-Khan.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/rahul-tewatia-shahrukh-khan-have-skills-but-need-to-be-far-more-consistent-saba-karim-on-developing-new-finishers-for-india/" title="Shahrukh Khan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shahrukh Khan </a>grabbed the limelight when he was grabbed by Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the 2022 mega auction at a colossal price of INR 9.00 crore. Witnessing his match-finish ability in the 2021 season, the Kings didn’t hesitate to splurge money on him again. Playing eight games in the 2022 edition, the youngster scored only 117 runs at a dismal strike rate of 108.33.
On the PBKS retention list released in November, he was included despite failing to provide solid batting numbers to the franchise. In the recently concluded domestic tournaments Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy too, he struggled to be among the runs.
In the upcoming IPL edition, the franchise will look for some fine knocks from him. Trusting his power-hitting ability, he will be given charge to serve the team as a lower middle-order batter to finish games. In last year’s IPL game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), he batted at number three and showed confidence with his innings of 19 runs off 10 balls with two fours and a maximum. Noting that display, the franchise might assign him to bat in the top order too.

<h3>4. Liam Livingstone</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Liam-Livingstone-1.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
Last year, at the mega auction, PBKS bought the explosive English batter, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/pakistan-vs-england-mark-wood-set-to-return-for-the-second-test-to-replace-injured-liam-livingstone/" title="Liam Livingstone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Liam Livingstone</a>, at a huge amount of INR 11.5 crore. In return, he showed his efficiency with the bat notching up 437 runs in 14 games at a stellar strike rate of 182.08. In the forthcoming edition, he will be expected to strengthen the PBKS batting line-up with his aggressive playing style.
In the last season, Livingstone played as a top-order batter batting at number four but in the team’s hour of need, he could emerge as a finisher too with his match-finishing skills. For his national side England, Livingstone has won a lot of T20I matches with his fierce batting style.
As a bowler too, he has the capability to contribute to the team. Last year, he took six wickets for PBKS but an expensive average of 8.78. This time, the franchise would expect him to improve his bowling figures too.

<h3>5. Raj Bawa</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Raj-Bawa.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
Noting <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/u19-world-cup-2022-all-about-the-player-of-the-final-raj-bawas-rich-sporting-background/" title="Raj Bawa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Raj Bawa</a>’s fabulous all-round performances for India under-19 cricket team in under-19 World Cup and ACC under-19 World Cup, PBKS bought him at INR two crore at the 2022 mega auction. However, he couldn’t do anything special for the team, scoring only 11 runs in the couple of games he got in the season.
In November, the Kings showed faith in Bawa again and included him on their retention list. This time, the youngster might be trusted by the Kings to deliver his best to the franchise and become a credible face with his all-round performances. In the upcoming competition, he could be given the responsibility to reinforce the team with his all-round performances.
In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022-23, he tried to regain his form by amassing 78 runs and three scalps in four games. For PBKS, he could do better in the 2023 season counting on his talent and potential.&nbsp;

<h3>6. Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper)</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Jitesh-Sharma.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
Vidarbha batter <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-have-been-a-huge-fan-of-sourav-ganguly-jitesh-sharma-on-wearing-jersey-number-99/" title="Jitesh Sharma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jitesh Sharma</a> got a chance to play for PBKS last year after getting sold at the 2022 mega auction at INR 20 lakh. Racking up 234 runs in 12 games at a fine strike rate of 163.63, he exuded confidence with his batting. Playing as a lower middle-order batter, he displayed his talent and proved his efficiency.
With his incredible performance, he made it to the PBKS retention list easily to be a part of the franchise’s 2023 campaign again. Playing for Vidarbha in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022-23, Sharma showcased his power again by hitting 224 runs in 10 matches at a spectacular strike rate of 175.00.&nbsp;
Witnessing his excellent numbers with the bat in 2022, the franchise might not hesitate in providing him chances in playing XI in the next season. For the 29-year-old cricketer, this season might come out as a perfect opportunity to get recognised as a remarkable wicketkeeper-batter.

<h3>7. Sam Curran</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Sam-Curran-2.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
For <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/ipl-auction-2023-chris-gayle-opens-up-on-record-breaking-bidding-of-sam-curran-cameron-green-ben-stokes/" title="Sam Curran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Curran</a>, 2022 was the best year of his career as he became the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup 2022. The English all-rounder picked up 13 wickets in six matches at a brilliant economy of 6.52. In the recently held IPL mini-auction, his hard work paid off as he became the most expensive player in the history of the league by getting signed at INR 18.5 crore.
After four years, he will return to the franchise again after playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2020 and 2021. Last year, he stayed away from the tournament due to rehabilitation from a back injury. This time, he will make his comeback special by delivering some great figures to his team with both bat and ball.&nbsp;
The 24-year-old has delivered some match-winning moments to PBKS and CSK, but talking about his overall performance, he has taken 32 wickets in 32 matches at a high economy of 9.21. This season, he will look to improve his figures by doing wonders with the ball in the upcoming season.

<h3>8. Rahul Chahar</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Rahul-Chahar-1.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
Witnessing <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mi-vs-pbks-dewald-brevis-smokes-rahul-chahar-for-four-straight-sixes/" title="Rahul Chahar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rahul Chahar</a>’s disciplined bowling for Mumbai Indians (MI) in previous IPL editions, Punjab Kings (PBKS) roped the youngster into their squad at INR 5.25 crore. Appearing in a PBKS jersey, he showed his magic again with his wicket-taking and economical bowling. In 13 games, he showcased his bowling skills and grabbed 14 wickets at an economy of 7.71.&nbsp; &nbsp; With these numbers, he also became the second-leading wicket-taker for Punjab in the tournament. In the forthcoming season, the franchise would expect him to deliver better numbers and help the team to grab the maiden title. In the recently played couple of domestic competitions, he looked excellent with the ball.
Bagging eight wickets in seven games at an economy of 7.23 in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022-23, he came out as the second-leading wicket-taker for his team in the competition. Participating in five matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022-23, he was magnificent with the ball notching up nine wickets at a superb economy of 4.34.

<h3>9. Harpreet Brar</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/2021/04/Harpreet-Brar.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021-how-anil-kumbles-advice-helped-harpreet-brar-bag-wickets-of-virat-kohli-ab-de-villiers-and-glenn-maxwell/" title="Harpreet Brar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harpreet Brar</a> delivered an eye-catching bowling performance for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2021 with an amazing bowling spell against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The youngster dismissed three batters of RCB which included Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers. For his match-winning bowling display, he also received the Player of the Match award.
Delivering this notable performance, he won the trust of Punjab Kings (PBKS). At the mega auction in 2022, he was sold at a huge amount of INR 3.80 crore. The left-arm spinner got five games in the last edition of the league and took four scalps at an economy of 9.12. The 27-year-old found a spot in the 2023 team after getting retained by the franchise in November last year.
This year, he will carry the responsibility to reinforce the spin attack of the team with Rahul Chahar. Going through his recent outings in domestic competitions, it could be said that the Punjab bowler is gearing up to solidify his IPL franchise with his superb bowling potential.

<h3>10. Arshdeep Singh</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Arshdeep-Singh-celebration.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
For<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/icc-announce-nominees-for-mens-emerging-cricketer-of-the-year-arshdeep-singh-sole-indian-on-the-list/" title="Arshdeep Singh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Arshdeep Singh</a>, 2023 was a splendid year as he made his T20I and ODI debuts for India. The pacer also got a chance to play in a couple of marquee events such as the Asia Cup 2022 and ICC T20 World Cup 2022. Grabbing the opportunities with both hands, he came up with marvellous bowling figures.&nbsp;
Last year, before the mega auction, he was retained by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) along with Mayank Agarwal at his base price of INR 4 crore. In return, he took 10 wickets in 14 games at an economy rate of 7.70. Considering his capability and talent, it could be said that the young gun could’ve done better.&nbsp;
This year, he will play the fifth season for PBKS as he was retained by the franchise in November 2022. With his lethal swing bowling, he will look to choke the opponents to bring joy to the faces of the franchise fans. He will be supported by Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, and Rahul Chahar to fortify the bowling attack of the team.&nbsp;

<h3>11. Kagiso Rabada</h3>
At the 2022 mega auction, Punjab Kings (PBKS) bought <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/aus-vs-sa-mcg-spectators-hilariously-imitate-kagiso-rabada-as-he-warms-up-near-boundary-rope/" title="Kagiso Rabada" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kagiso Rabada</a> at a whopping sum of INR 9.25 crore. Leading the bowling attack of his new franchise, he delivered above-par bowling displays with 23 wickets in 13 contests at an economy rate of 8.45. With his phenomenal figures, he comfortably found a spot in the franchise’s retention list.
In the T20 World Cup 2022, he struggled with the ball hunting only two batters in five matches at an economy of 9.43. But looking at his reputation and talent, he can’t be written off to be an impactful bowler in any tournament. This year, his contribution will be crucial for PBKS to have an amazing journey in the cash-rich league.&nbsp;
The 27-year-old has a glorifying bowling record in the league as he has trapped 99 batters in 63 games at an economy of 8.63. Going through these massive figures, PBKS will bank on him to lead their bowling attack with Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, and Rahul Chahar.&nbsp;

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have been the most inconsistent team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they are the only team (since 2008) that qualified for the playoff stage only a couple of times in their 15 seasons of the tournament. Despite having immense experience and quality players, they struggled to advance to the playoff round in the last edition too. Under their new skipper Mayank Agarwal, they tried to deliver something impactful in the competition. However, of 14 games, with seven victories and an equal number of defeats, they left the competition on dismal note.&nbsp;
In November last year, the franchise released some players which included some important names such as Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, and Mayank Agarwal too who couldn’t do wonders with his bat and captaincy. At the mini-auction, they participated with their remaining purse of INR 32.2 crore in which they spent more than a half sum on Sam Curran. Acquiring the English all-rounder at a hefty price of 18.5 crore, the Kings grabbed a lot of attention. Now, in the 2023 season, they will expect the youngster to be influential with both bat and ball to help the Kings lift their first trophy. Along with Curran, they also roped in some young Indian cricketers who are influential in the domestic circuit. Talking more about that here are-
<h3>Starting playing XI of Punjab Kings (PBKS) after IPL 2023 mini-auction</h3>
<h3>1. Jonny Bairstow</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1672312912593_Shikhar-Dhawan-and-Jonny-Bairstow.jpeg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/babar-azam-smashes-most-international-centuries-in-2022-surpasses-jonny-bairstows-record/" title="Jonny Bairstow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jonny Bairstow</a> has won a lot of games for England with his aggressive&nbsp;batting attitude. Appearing for Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the first time in the last edition, Jonny Bairstow delivered a couple of half-centuries in which one came against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a winning cause. However, his overall performance was below-par as he could amass 253 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 144.57.
Despite failing to do well for the team, Punjab believed in the English cricketer by retaining him for the upcoming edition. Last year, he played only three T20Is and scored 147 runs at a strike rate of 141.34. He couldn’t participate in T20 World Cup 2022 due to a freak injury which he got while playing golf.
In the initial months of 2023, he might make a comeback in international cricket which is positive news for Punjab Kings. His presence will be vital for his IPL franchise also to vitalise the batting line-up. So far, he has featured in 39 IPL games and notched up 1,291 runs at a sensational strike rate of 142.65.

<h3>2. Shikhar Dhawan (Captain)</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1672570630139_Shikhar-Dhawan.jpeg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
After Mayank Agarwal’s exit, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/old-video-of-shikhar-dhawan-advising-rishabh-pant-to-drive-carefully-resurfaces/" title="Shikhar Dhawan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shikhar Dhawan</a> has been appointed the captain of Punjab Kings for the 2023 IPL. His experience and potential will be crucial for the franchise to have a successful season ahead. Last season, he looked fine with his bat scoring 460 runs in 14 games, with three half-centuries.
In the league, the veteran has immense experience as he played for franchises such as Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) from 2008-2021. Last year, Punjab Kings (PBKS) invested INR 8.25 crore at the mega auction to get his services. Dhawan displayed fine shows as an India captain in 2022 with series wins against West Indies and South Africa.
Witnessing his impressive performances as a skipper in a blue jersey, the Kings handed him the captaincy mantle. Now, the southpaw will look to prove the franchise’s decision right by winning the first title for it with his batting and leadership skills.

<h3>3. Shahrukh Khan</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Shahrukh-Khan.jpg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/rahul-tewatia-shahrukh-khan-have-skills-but-need-to-be-far-more-consistent-saba-karim-on-developing-new-finishers-for-india/" title="Shahrukh Khan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shahrukh Khan </a>grabbed the limelight when he was grabbed by Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the 2022 mega auction at a colossal price of INR 9.00 crore. Witnessing his match-finish ability in the 2021 season, the Kings didn’t hesitate to splurge money on him again. Playing eight games in the 2022 edition, the youngster scored only 117 runs at a dismal strike rate of 108.33.
On the PBKS retention list released in November, he was included despite failing to provide solid batting numbers to the franchise. In the recently concluded domestic tournaments Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy too, he struggled to be among the runs.
In the upcoming IPL edition, the franchise will look for some fine knocks from him. Trusting his power-hitting ability, he will be given charge to serve the team as a lower middle-order batter to finish games. In last year’s IPL game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), he batted at number three and showed confidence with his innings of 19 runs off 10 balls with two fours and a maximum. Noting that display, the franchise might assign him to bat in the top order too.

<h3>4. Liam Livingstone</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Liam-Livingstone-1.jpg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
Last year, at the mega auction, PBKS bought the explosive English batter, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/pakistan-vs-england-mark-wood-set-to-return-for-the-second-test-to-replace-injured-liam-livingstone/" title="Liam Livingstone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Liam Livingstone</a>, at a huge amount of INR 11.5 crore. In return, he showed his efficiency with the bat notching up 437 runs in 14 games at a stellar strike rate of 182.08. In the forthcoming edition, he will be expected to strengthen the PBKS batting line-up with his aggressive playing style.
In the last season, Livingstone played as a top-order batter batting at number four but in the team’s hour of need, he could emerge as a finisher too with his match-finishing skills. For his national side England, Livingstone has won a lot of T20I matches with his fierce batting style.
As a bowler too, he has the capability to contribute to the team. Last year, he took six wickets for PBKS but an expensive average of 8.78. This time, the franchise would expect him to improve his bowling figures too.

<h3>5. Raj Bawa</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Raj-Bawa.jpg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
Noting <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/u19-world-cup-2022-all-about-the-player-of-the-final-raj-bawas-rich-sporting-background/" title="Raj Bawa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Raj Bawa</a>’s fabulous all-round performances for India under-19 cricket team in under-19 World Cup and ACC under-19 World Cup, PBKS bought him at INR two crore at the 2022 mega auction. However, he couldn’t do anything special for the team, scoring only 11 runs in the couple of games he got in the season.
In November, the Kings showed faith in Bawa again and included him on their retention list. This time, the youngster might be trusted by the Kings to deliver his best to the franchise and become a credible face with his all-round performances. In the upcoming competition, he could be given the responsibility to reinforce the team with his all-round performances.
In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022-23, he tried to regain his form by amassing 78 runs and three scalps in four games. For PBKS, he could do better in the 2023 season counting on his talent and potential.&nbsp;

<h3>6. Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper)</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Jitesh-Sharma.jpg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
Vidarbha batter <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-have-been-a-huge-fan-of-sourav-ganguly-jitesh-sharma-on-wearing-jersey-number-99/" title="Jitesh Sharma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jitesh Sharma</a> got a chance to play for PBKS last year after getting sold at the 2022 mega auction at INR 20 lakh. Racking up 234 runs in 12 games at a fine strike rate of 163.63, he exuded confidence with his batting. Playing as a lower middle-order batter, he displayed his talent and proved his efficiency.
With his incredible performance, he made it to the PBKS retention list easily to be a part of the franchise’s 2023 campaign again. Playing for Vidarbha in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022-23, Sharma showcased his power again by hitting 224 runs in 10 matches at a spectacular strike rate of 175.00.&nbsp;
Witnessing his excellent numbers with the bat in 2022, the franchise might not hesitate in providing him chances in playing XI in the next season. For the 29-year-old cricketer, this season might come out as a perfect opportunity to get recognised as a remarkable wicketkeeper-batter.

<h3>7. Sam Curran</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Sam-Curran-2.jpg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
For <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/ipl-auction-2023-chris-gayle-opens-up-on-record-breaking-bidding-of-sam-curran-cameron-green-ben-stokes/" title="Sam Curran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Curran</a>, 2022 was the best year of his career as he became the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup 2022. The English all-rounder picked up 13 wickets in six matches at a brilliant economy of 6.52. In the recently held IPL mini-auction, his hard work paid off as he became the most expensive player in the history of the league by getting signed at INR 18.5 crore.
After four years, he will return to the franchise again after playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2020 and 2021. Last year, he stayed away from the tournament due to rehabilitation from a back injury. This time, he will make his comeback special by delivering some great figures to his team with both bat and ball.&nbsp;
The 24-year-old has delivered some match-winning moments to PBKS and CSK, but talking about his overall performance, he has taken 32 wickets in 32 matches at a high economy of 9.21. This season, he will look to improve his figures by doing wonders with the ball in the upcoming season.

<h3>8. Rahul Chahar</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Rahul-Chahar-1.jpg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
Witnessing <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mi-vs-pbks-dewald-brevis-smokes-rahul-chahar-for-four-straight-sixes/" title="Rahul Chahar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rahul Chahar</a>’s disciplined bowling for Mumbai Indians (MI) in previous IPL editions, Punjab Kings (PBKS) roped the youngster into their squad at INR 5.25 crore. Appearing in a PBKS jersey, he showed his magic again with his wicket-taking and economical bowling. In 13 games, he showcased his bowling skills and grabbed 14 wickets at an economy of 7.71.&nbsp; &nbsp; With these numbers, he also became the second-leading wicket-taker for Punjab in the tournament. In the forthcoming season, the franchise would expect him to deliver better numbers and help the team to grab the maiden title. In the recently played couple of domestic competitions, he looked excellent with the ball.
Bagging eight wickets in seven games at an economy of 7.23 in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022-23, he came out as the second-leading wicket-taker for his team in the competition. Participating in five matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022-23, he was magnificent with the ball notching up nine wickets at a superb economy of 4.34.

<h3>9. Harpreet Brar</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/2021/04/Harpreet-Brar.jpg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021-how-anil-kumbles-advice-helped-harpreet-brar-bag-wickets-of-virat-kohli-ab-de-villiers-and-glenn-maxwell/" title="Harpreet Brar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harpreet Brar</a> delivered an eye-catching bowling performance for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2021 with an amazing bowling spell against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The youngster dismissed three batters of RCB which included Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers. For his match-winning bowling display, he also received the Player of the Match award.
Delivering this notable performance, he won the trust of Punjab Kings (PBKS). At the mega auction in 2022, he was sold at a huge amount of INR 3.80 crore. The left-arm spinner got five games in the last edition of the league and took four scalps at an economy of 9.12. The 27-year-old found a spot in the 2023 team after getting retained by the franchise in November last year.
This year, he will carry the responsibility to reinforce the spin attack of the team with Rahul Chahar. Going through his recent outings in domestic competitions, it could be said that the Punjab bowler is gearing up to solidify his IPL franchise with his superb bowling potential.

<h3>10. Arshdeep Singh</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Arshdeep-Singh-celebration.jpg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
For<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/icc-announce-nominees-for-mens-emerging-cricketer-of-the-year-arshdeep-singh-sole-indian-on-the-list/" title="Arshdeep Singh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Arshdeep Singh</a>, 2023 was a splendid year as he made his T20I and ODI debuts for India. The pacer also got a chance to play in a couple of marquee events such as the Asia Cup 2022 and ICC T20 World Cup 2022. Grabbing the opportunities with both hands, he came up with marvellous bowling figures.&nbsp;
Last year, before the mega auction, he was retained by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) along with Mayank Agarwal at his base price of INR 4 crore. In return, he took 10 wickets in 14 games at an economy rate of 7.70. Considering his capability and talent, it could be said that the young gun could’ve done better.&nbsp;
This year, he will play the fifth season for PBKS as he was retained by the franchise in November 2022. With his lethal swing bowling, he will look to choke the opponents to bring joy to the faces of the franchise fans. He will be supported by Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, and Rahul Chahar to fortify the bowling attack of the team.&nbsp;

<h3>11. Kagiso Rabada</h3>
At the 2022 mega auction, Punjab Kings (PBKS) bought <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/social-tracker-cricket/aus-vs-sa-mcg-spectators-hilariously-imitate-kagiso-rabada-as-he-warms-up-near-boundary-rope/" title="Kagiso Rabada" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kagiso Rabada</a> at a whopping sum of INR 9.25 crore. Leading the bowling attack of his new franchise, he delivered above-par bowling displays with 23 wickets in 13 contests at an economy rate of 8.45. With his phenomenal figures, he comfortably found a spot in the franchise’s retention list.
In the T20 World Cup 2022, he struggled with the ball hunting only two batters in five matches at an economy of 9.43. But looking at his reputation and talent, he can’t be written off to be an impactful bowler in any tournament. This year, his contribution will be crucial for PBKS to have an amazing journey in the cash-rich league.&nbsp;
The 27-year-old has a glorifying bowling record in the league as he has trapped 99 batters in 63 games at an economy of 8.63. Going through these massive figures, PBKS will bank on him to lead their bowling attack with Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, and Rahul Chahar.&nbsp;

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have been the most inconsistent team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they are the only team (since 2008) that qualified for the playoff stage only a couple of times in their

IPL 2023: Best Starting playing XI of Punjab Kings (PBKS) after mini auction

Banking on the experience and capability of these players, Punjab Kings will look to go hard on their opponents and get their hands on the trophy.

6. Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper)