IPL 2024: Blow for PBKS as skipper Shikhar Dhawan out for 'seven-ten days' with injury, confirms coach Bangar

Punjab Kings (PBKS) coach Sanjay Bangar has confirmed that skipper Shikhar Dhawan is out for at least seven-ten days. Sam Curran was the stand-in captain in place of Dhawan during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Rajasthan Royals on April 13. Dhawan's injury is a setback to PBKS who are already struggling with four losses in six games.

"He's having a shoulder injury, so he is likely to be out for at least a couple of days, I would say," Bangar said after the loss against RR on Saturday.

"Having an experienced opener, somebody like Shikhar, who has experience of playing on such wickets, becomes extremely crucial [for the team]. We have to wait and see how he responds to the treatment. At the moment, it seems that he could be out of action for at least seven-ten days," added the head coach.

Bangar also clarified that wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, who shot to prominence last season with his batting, wasn't the designated vice-captain and it was always going to be Curran who'd lead the side.

"It wasn't the case that Jitesh was the stand-in captain. We were very clear in our mind that if at all there had to be an opening, Sam Curran will be taking over and do the job as the captain," said Bangar.

As for the match, PBKS lost another thriller, second on the trot, as RR eventually chased the 148-run target with three wickets and one ball left. Punjab bowlers did well to make a match out of nothing but Rajasthan's West Indian duo of Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell kept their cool to take Royals home.

Hetmyer scored unbeaten 27 off 10 balls while Powell scored 11 off 5 including two fours in the penultimate over as Rajasthan shook off their only loss of the season, which came in the last match against Gujarat Titans.