PBKS Playing XI vs RCB: Punjab Kings’ gung-ho approach has augered well for the franchise as Mayank Agarwal’s side have made a good start to IPL 2022, with 2 wins in their 3 games so far. The performance of their overseas talent backed by some inspired performances from the domestic players has led to Punjab being one of the teams to watch out for this season. The team is further strengthened by the availability of Jonny Bairstow, who will make his debut against the Gujarat Titans. Follow IPL 2022, PBKS vs GT Live updates on Insidesport.in.
English keeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow is all set to make his debut for the Punjab Kings as they take on the Gujarat Titans on Friday. Bairstow was unavailable for the first three games due to international commitments and the subsequent quarantine but should slot right back into the team. The Englishman should take up a middle-order slot and also double up as a keeper, meaning it is Bhanuka Rajapaksa who is likely to make way for the ex-Sunrisers opener.
Rajapaksa performed well in absence of Bairstow, scoring 43 and 31 before a run-out against CSK saw his stay being cut short early. The Sri Lankan has been immense with his contributions but Bairstow’s arrival should see him drop to the bench, with the Englishman being the only player in the IPL to average more than 40 with a strike rate above 140.
Predicted PBKS Playing XI vs GT
1. Mayank Agarwal (C)
2. Shikhar Dhawan
3. Jonny Bairstow
4. Liam Livingstone
5. Jitesh Sharma (WK)
6. Shah Rukh Khan
7. Odean Smith
8. Kagiso Rabada
9. Vaibhav Arora
10. Rahul Chahar
11. Arshdeep Singh
PBKS Playing XI vs GT: HUGE DILEMMA for Mayank Agarwal, Jonny Bairstow all set to make his debut, who misses out? – Follow LIVE Updates
When the going gets tough, Jitesh gets going! 💪🏻
Listen to what our 🦁 has to say about his dream debut against CSK! 📹#SaddaPunjab #IPL2022 #PunjabKings #ਸਾਡਾਪੰਜਾਬ @jiteshsharma_ pic.twitter.com/E4eyquH7dc
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) April 7, 2022
Liam Livingstone, IPL 2022 auction’s most expensive foreign signing, was at the risk of being dropped, but put in a clutch performance against CSK last time out. The all-rounder scored a counter-attacking half-century, and chipped in with two wickets, making him indispensable from the side.
Kagiso Rabada has performed fairly well since joining the team and the South African speedster is the leader of the attack, meaning that slot is also filled up. Odean Smith has been patchy with his form, but the West Indies star is crucial to the team’s balance, and is likely to stay in the XI.
In a huge positive for PBKS, their debutants Jitesh Sharma and Vaibhav Arora both starred against CSK adding much more quality to the side. Jitesh, a wicket-keeper played an attacking cameo at the later stages of the game, while Arora troubled the CSK batters with the new ball, swinging it both ways. The duo should retain their places in the side, in what is set to be a largely unchanged XI.
PBKS Playing XI vs GT: HUGE DILEMMA for Mayank Agarwal, Jonny Bairstow all set to make his debut, who misses out? – Follow LIVE Updates
Editors pick
