IPL 2021: Match 11 – DC vs PBKS – Punjab Kings Predicted Playing XI

Punjab Kings (PBKS) edged past the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by four runs to kickstart their campaign in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, in their second game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), they slumped to a six-wicket victory at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

They collapsed to 106 for six in their 20 overs after which the Super Kings had it too easy. PBKS are next set to face the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the second of Sunday’s doubleheader in Mumbai. On the head-to-head count, the Punjab based team are ahead and they could take heart from the same.

The loss in the previous game has pushed PBKS to the seventh spot in the table. It remains to be seen if they resort to any changes in the playing eleven going into the upcoming contest at the iconic venue in Mumbai.

Here’s PBKS’s Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2021 Match 11:

Openers (Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul (C and WK))

The opening pair of PBKS is yet to fire on all cylinders. Even as KL Rahul has looked decent, Mayank Agarwal hasn’t quite hit his straps. In two games, Mayank has hit two fours and has a tally of 14 runs at an average of seven. If he starts firing at the top, Punjab’s batting will look even more dangerous.

Rahul is currently PBKS’s leading run-scorer in the tournament with 96 runs at an average of 48. In the previous game against CSK, he started with a four, but then he perished after Ravindra Jadeja’s direct hit caught the Punjab skipper short at the striker’s end.

In Mumbai, the Karnataka-born has an average close to 80 and a lot will depend on how he bats. A decent stand for the opening wicket between Rahul and Agarwal might set the platform for a massive score on board.

Middle-order (Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan)

In the middle-order, Nicholas Pooran has made a horrendous start to his campaign in the IPL. The left-hander has scored back-to-back ducks and he would want to make amends at the earliest. Chris Gayle scored 40 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) but then he couldn’t score big in the second game.

The same was the case with Deepak Hooda, who couldn’t replicate his show from the first encounter. In the last two games, Hooda batted at number four ahead of Pooran, who’s a more accomplished name in the cricket world.

Amidst the shoddy performances, the biggest positive was Shahrukh Khan, who showed nerves of steel and took PBKS over the 100-run mark. If even two among their four middle-order batters can perform, KL Rahul and Co are likely to be highly benefitted.

Bowlers (Riley Meredith, Jhye Richardson, Murugan Ashwin, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami)

In the bowling attack, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh have arguably been their standout performers. Both the fast bowlers have picked up four wickets each and have economy rates of 6.75 and seven respectively. But the worry remains with the other bowlers.

Their new recruits, the Australian pace bowling duo of Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith have economy rates in excess of 10. Meredith and Richardson picked up a wicket each in the first game, but then they went wicketless in the second.

In the spin department, Murugan Ashwin hasn’t been at his best. The leg-spinner has picked up one wicket and has an economy rate of 9.13. It won’t be a surprise if Punjab replaces the tweaker with Ravi Bishnoi, who has been with the IPL franchise for the last couple of seasons.