IPL 2024: Jitesh Sharma to lead Punjab Kings in their last match of season

Jitesh Sharma will lead the Punjab Kings in their final match of the IPL 2024 season against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The franchise announced this decision on Saturday, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to their campaign at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, May 19.

This match marks Jitesh's debut as captain of the team. The wicketkeeper-batter, who was appointed vice-captain at the start of the season, steps up to fill the leadership void left by Sam Curran. Curran has returned to England for international duty, preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies.

Sharma's personal performance this season has been underwhelming, with only 155 runs in 13 matches, averaging 14.09 and a strike rate of 122.05. Despite these struggles, he is set to lead Punjab Kings in what promises to be a challenging match.

The Punjab Kings have had a tough season overall, currently sitting ninth in the standings with just ten points from 13 games. Their chances of qualifying for the playoffs ended days ago. Notably, they have not made it to the playoffs since reaching the finals in 2014. However, a win against Sunrisers Hyderabad could see them move up to the eighth spot.

Their last league match was a highlight, where they defeated Rajasthan Royals by five wickets. The Australian pacer Nathan Ellis, who stepped in for the injured Kagiso Rabada, played a crucial role. He was the most economical bowler with figures of 1/24 and took the key wicket of Rajasthan's skipper Sanju Samson.

Also Read: Jitesh Sharma sums up Punjab Kings' IPL 2024 season

After the last game, Sam Curran reflected on the team's performance, and praised Ellis for his impressive debut, mentioning he probably should have been included earlier in the season. Curran noted the challenging pitch conditions but expressed enjoyment in captaining the team and appreciated the positive atmosphere.

"We bowled really well as a group. Message was that we had a lot of pride to play for. Ellis was absolutely amazing in his first game of the season. Probably should've played him earlier. Obviously nice. Have thoroughly enjoyed the season, have enjoyed captaining. Atmosphere around the group has been really good," he had said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

As Punjab Kings prepare for their final outing of the season, all eyes will be on Jitesh Sharma to see how he handles the captaincy. Will he be able to lead his team to a victorious end? Fans are eagerly waiting to find out.