IPL 2022 Winner Prediction for Punjab Kings
- Best place to bet: Pure Win
- Price: 6.5
The Punjab Kings had a brilliant Mega Auction – sealing Liam Livingstone and Kagiso Rabada in two of the most expensive acquisitions, adding a real sense of balance to their squad.
They have a team brimming with world-class talent – Livingstone and Rabada adding to a long list of names, including Shikar Dhawan, Shahrukh Khan, and Odean Smith.
The loss of KL Rahul is a blow – last season’s third-highest run-scorer is off to the Lucknow Super Giants to become the t-highest paid player in IPL history. However, the retention of Mayank Agarwal, who has been named as the new captain, could prove a masterstroke – the 31-year-old hit four fifties last season, including a scintillating 99 Not Out against the Delhi Capitals.
They have been drawn in a tough group – the Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and the Gujarat Titans filling out Group B.
But, personnel changes and new gs aside, I believe it’s time the Punjab Kings shed their tag as perennial underachievers. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2014 – far too long considering the investment poured into their side in recent years. I think this will be the year they halt the barren spell.
Star Player: Arshdeep Singh
A pacey bowler with an insatiable attitude to learn and improve, a large amount is expected from the 23-year-old coming into this tournament.
Retained for the bargain price of ₹4 crores, Singh has claimed 27 wickets in 20 games for the Kings over the last two campaigns, including a five-wicket haul in the previous year against the Rajasthan Royals.
He will be a crucial presence at the death for the Kings’ bowling unit. An expert exponent of the yorker, he could dominate the top bowler betting markets for his side this season.
Star Player: Mayank Agarwal
The new Punjab Kings skipper is the longest-serving individual remaining at the Punjab Kings, after arriving in 2018.
His importance to his franchise is no better highlighted than the number of runs he has scored for them over the past two campaigns – notching up over 800 runs in total.
This year, he will hope another stellar performance will land him a maiden Twenty20 cap for his country, which appear to favour him as an option in the longer format.
Given his recent consistency, appointment as skipper and after looking at the online cricket satar bazar, I like the look of Agarwal to trouble the scorers in the tournament’s top batsman market. The odds aren’t out yet, but unless they’re devastatingly low, I will be backing him each way.
What we like about PKS
I don’t know what it is about the perennial underachiever I am drawn to – maybe it hits too close to home?
It feels as though the Punjab Kings have the tools to put forward a proper challenge this season. The Mega Auction was an unqualified success, and there is star quality coursing through this line-up.
I am looking for a disruption to the dominance of the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, and I think the Kings are the ones to provide it.
Fly in the ointment
How much of a miss will KL Rahul be?
It feels odd to describe the departure of their free-scoring leader as a potentially positive outcome – but it’s true that under his leadership, the Kings have stagnated over recent years.
However, he notched 626 runs last year – that’s a huge hole to fill, and the Kings may struggle if another batter doesn’t step up to replace those runs.
IPL 2022 Winner Prediction Verdict
I am backing the Kings to make the top two at a minimum in the regular standings, and end years of hurt by lifting their maiden IPL trophy.
