Punjab have struggled consistently in the Indian T20 League in the last few years. With six straight playoff-less seasons, they have become the perennial underachievers in the world’s most popular T20 cricket league. After reaching the final in 2014, they haven’t finished in the top four, and it hasn’t been an exciting campaign in Indian T20 League 2021 so far. Will it be another disappointing season for the K L Rahul-led side?
Recap of Indian T20 League 2021 first leg
Punjab are seventh in the Indian T20 League 2021 points table with six points from eight matches. The Mohali-based team won their season opener, but erratic performances saw them lose three in a row. A nine-wicket win over Mumbai brought back excitement among fans. However, a five-wicket defeat against a struggling Kolkata pegged them back again.
Rahul and Mayank Agarwal are mainstays in the batting department. The rest of the batters haven’t been able to provide support to the top-order. Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, and Shahrukh Khan have produced decent knocks, while Nicholas Pooran, who registered four ducks, managed only 28 runs in six innings.
The bowling attack, too, had its issues as Jhye Richardson couldn’t take the tournament by storm. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami impressed in patches. The constant chopping and changing, too, made matters complicated. However, left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar made the most of his opportunity. The 26-year-old picked up a three-wicket haul and scored a vital 25 in the win over Bangalore.
Punjab have picked up victories against the mighty Mumbai and Bangalore, while they suffered defeats at the hands of struggling Hyderabad and Kolkata. If batters come up with a solid performance, the bowlers let the team down. There were instances when the batting unit, too, failed to rise to the occasion.
Changes in the squad ahead of Indian T20 League 2021 second leg
Adil Rashid, Aiden Markram, Nathan Ellis have replaced Jhye Richardson, Dawid Malan, and Riley Meredith in the Punjab 25-member squad. The trio earned their first Indian T20 League contracts. Rashid is no stranger to franchise leagues as he has played in the BBL, Bangladesh Premier League, Abu Dhabi T10 League, etc. He bagged 12 wickets in seven matches in the Hundred tournament and finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker.
With 408 runs at a strike rate of 150, Markram is South Africa’s second-leading run-scorer in T20Is in 2021. The opening batsman struck three half-centuries in the home series against Pakistan in April. Meanwhile, a hat-trick on his T20I debut brought Ellis into the limelight. He picked up five wickets at an economy of 6.25 in the two matches against Bangladesh.
Players to watch out for in Indian T20 League 2021 second leg
Punjab will heavily rely on their captain Rahul, who amassed 670 runs in UAE last season. The 29-year-old, who had scored a century against England at Lord’s, has hit four half-centuries in Indian T20 League 2021. He will be eyeing a second successive Orange Cap and steer his team into the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Mayank is another player to watch out for in the playing 11. He struck two fifties against Delhi this season. Like Rahul, he was outstanding in Indian T20 League 2020.
Expectations in Indian T20 League 2021 second leg
Punjab will have to pick up eight points from their remaining six fixtures to have a chance of making it to the playoffs. They face Rajasthan and Hyderabad in their opening two matches. If Punjab can win both the fixtures, they will be strong contenders for the top four spot. However, a defeat will put them under pressure and leave their hopes in tatters.
Top Fantasy Points scorers in Indian T20 League 2021
KL Rahul – 494 pts, Mayank Agarwal – 364 pts, Deepak Hooda – 269 pts, Chris Gayle – 260 pts, Mohammed Shami – 245 pts, Arshdeep Singh – 217 pts, Shahrukh Khan – 180 pts, Harpreet Brar – 163 pts, Ravi Bishnoi – 139 pts, Chris Jordan – 97 pts, Nicholas Pooran – 76 pts
Parameswaran Sankaranarayanan
Parameswaran Sankaranarayan is a sports enthusiast who has worked in print, website, and other digital platforms. He was part of the editorial team of first-ever Indian football-based website - IndianFootball.com (now defunct) - and passionately follows the latest happenings in world football. During his time as a journalist, he had the opportunity to interact with some of the iconic personalities in Indian sports and witness some memorable moments in Indian football.
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