The Punjab Kings have broken IPL auction records by buying England all-rounder Sam Curran for INR 18.5 crores. They followed suit with a smart purchase of Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza for INR 50 lakhs.
However, the 2014 finalists opted for a thrifty approach, signing a total of six players. PBKS is down over INR 1.2 crores. The Punjab Kings were expected to dominate the proceedings entering the auction with the second-largest sum.
PBKS Players Bought in IPL 2023 Auction:
Shivam Singh (Rs 20 lakh), Mohit Rathee (Rs 20 lakh), Vidwath Kaverappa (Rs 20 lakh), Harpreet Bhatia (Rs 40 lakh), Sikandar Raza (Rs 50 lakh), Sam Curran (Rs 18.5 crore).
Retained Players In IPL 2023:
Shikhar Dhawan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Raj Angad Bawa, Prabhsimran Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Jitesh Sharma, Baltej Singh Dhanda, Atharva Taide, Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Nathan Ellis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
IPL 2023: 5 Players Who Will All Matches for Punjab Kings (PBKS)
1. Shikhar Dhawan
In his first season with PBKS, the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL), Shikhar Dhawan scored 460 runs in 14 games, averaging 38.33 with a strike rate of 122.66.
Indian Premier League (IPL) second-highest run-getter in history, Shikhar Dhawan was bought by PBKS franchise for Rs 8.25 crore in Indian Premier League (IPL) Mega Auction 2022.
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) have officially announced that veteran opening pitcher Shikhar Dhawan will replace Mayank Agarwal as their captain from the 2023 IPL.
2. Johnny Bairstow
England opener Jonny Bairstow has scored 253 runs in his 11 games of the IPL 2022, averaging 23 at a batting rate of 144.75. PBKS put him on IPL 2022 auction at INR 6.75 crore. He will resume the journey at IPL 2023.
3. Sam Curran
Sam Curran, the most expensive buyer at the IPL 2023 auction, England all-rounder and Tournament Man of the Tournament for the 2022 T20 World Cup, was bought once by Punjab at the 2019 IPL. Curran with batting average of 23.75, scored 95 runs in 9 games. He earned an average of 32.3 including an excellent spell of 4/11 and got 10 scalps for the team.
He did not play in IPL 2022 due to injury. However, in IPL 2020 and IPL 2021, he played for CSK. In a total of 32 matches, he struck out 337 runs at an average of 22.47 and 32 scalps at an average of 31.09.
4. Kagiso Rabada
Proteas pacemaker Kagiso Rabada have only played for the Punjab Kings in IPL 2022. Averaging 17.65 in 13 games, he has caught 23 wickets including an excellent wicket haul [4/33].
5. Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh, an in-form pacer of Punjab, has performed well for India in his debut year 2022. But he has only represented Punjab in the IPL since 2019. In IPL 2021 he picked 18 wickets in 12 matches. And in IPL 2022, he picked 10 wickets in 14 matches. Overall, he picked up 40 wickets at an average of 26.35 in his 37 games.
