The T20 action will continue on Friday (April 1) as match 8 of the IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lock horns with the 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Both sides had contrasting results in their respective last encounters. After a terrific win versus the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the season-opener, KKR conceded a close game to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and, hence, will be eager to return to winning ways. They were asked to bat first versus Faf du Plessis-led Bengaluru, however, their batters fell flat as KKR were bundled out for 128 in 18.5 overs. In reply, KKR stretched the game to the last over before RCB won by three wickets.&nbsp;

On the other hand, Punjab have played only one encounter so far. They also met RCB in their previous game and went past the three-time runners-up by five wickets in a tall run-chase of 206 at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-is-wrong-no-doubt-about-that-former-cricketers-slam-ms-dhoni-over-csk-captaincy-situation-after-lsg-loss-467353">It is wrong, no doubt about that: Former cricketers slam MS Dhoni over CSK captaincy situation after LSG loss</a>

Match prediction for KKR vs PBKS clash:&nbsp;The toss will play a crucial role in deciding the winner of the face-off. Both captains will once again be eager to bowl first and will back their respective troops to chase down any total on a good batting track at the Wankhede. In terms of batting, there is enough firepower in both&nbsp;teams. In bowling, KKR might have an edge given their two big guns, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. For Punjab, the onus will fall on Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh.

Expect another run-fest. Expect another win for the chasing side. At this point, KKR might have an edge over PBKS (given their variety in bowling and Punjab's knack for being inconsistent).

The T20 action will continue on Friday (April 1) as match 8 of the IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lock horns with the 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The T20 action will continue on Friday (April 1) as match 8 of the IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lock horns with the 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Both sides had contrasting results in their respective last encounters. After a terrific win versus the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the season-opener, KKR conceded a close game to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and, hence, will be eager to return to winning ways. They were asked to bat first versus Faf du Plessis-led Bengaluru, however, their batters fell flat as KKR were bundled out for 128 in 18.5 overs. In reply, KKR stretched the game to the last over before RCB won by three wickets. On the other hand, Punjab have played only one encounter so far. They also met RCB in their previous game and went past the three-time runners-up by five wickets in a tall run-chase of 206 at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai. ALSO READ | It is wrong, no doubt about that: Former cricketers slam MS Dhoni over CSK captaincy situation after LSG loss Match prediction for KKR vs PBKS clash: The toss will play a crucial role in deciding the winner of the face-off. Both captains will once again be eager to bowl first and will back their respective troops to chase down any total on a good batting track at the Wankhede. In terms of batting, there is enough firepower in both teams. In bowling, KKR might have an edge given their two big guns, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. For Punjab, the onus will fall on Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh. Expect another run-fest. Expect another win for the chasing side. At this point, KKR might have an edge over PBKS (given their variety in bowling and Punjab's knack for being inconsistent).

KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match?

Chris Gayle, one of the biggest T20 names, sprung&nbsp;a huge surprise when he didn't register for the IPL 2022 mega auction, which was held in mid-February. Having been someone who has missed some international fixtures in order to take part in T20 leagues worldwide, Universe Boss' absence from IPL 2022 led to speculations that the swashbuckling opener's IPL career has come to an end.

Nonetheless, the 42-year-old cricketer isn't going anywhere. Recently, Gayle shared an Instagram story where he can be seen sweating it out at the gym and revealed that he is preparing for IPL 2023. Here's Gayle's story:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-virat-kohli-to-ab-de-villiers-superstar-batters-with-most-ipl-hundreds-463535">From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds</a>

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Chris Gayle Instagram Story 😍😍 
Can't wait to see <a href="https://twitter.com/henrygayle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@henrygayle</a> Universe Boss💪 in the next season of IPL (IPL 2023) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCBvsKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCBvsKKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvRCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvRCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/PlKhtURnhv">pic.twitter.com/PlKhtURnhv</a>
— Cricket Countdown (@Cric8Countdown) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cric8Countdown/status/1509029862404935685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-ipl-2022-points-table-after-kolkata-knigt-riders-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-game-467009">Updated IPL 2022 points table after Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore game</a>

For the unversed, Gayle is an IPL legend. He&nbsp;has represented the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in his glittering&nbsp;IPL career, amassing 4,965 runs at 39.72 and a strike rate of&nbsp;148.96. Gayle is the seventh-highest run-getter overall; third-most runs among foreign players in the IPL. In addition, he has as many as six IPL tons (most by any batter).

Gayle was part of the PBKS squad since 2018, however, he wasn't a regular in the playing XI in the last two seasons before he withdrew from the second and final leg of IPL 2021, citing bio-bubble fatigue. It will be interesting to see which team acquires his services if he returns for IPL 2023.

Chris Gayle, one of the biggest T20 names, sprung a huge surprise when he didn't register for the IPL 2022 mega auction, which was held in mid-February. Having been someone who has missed some international fixtures in order to take part in T20 leagues worldwide, Universe Boss' absence from IPL 2022 led to speculations that the swashbuckling opener's IPL career has come to an end.

Chris Gayle, one of the biggest T20 names, sprung a huge surprise when he didn't register for the IPL 2022 mega auction, which was held in mid-February. Having been someone who has missed some international fixtures in order to take part in T20 leagues worldwide, Universe Boss' absence from IPL 2022 led to speculations that the swashbuckling opener's IPL career has come to an end. Nonetheless, the 42-year-old cricketer isn't going anywhere. Recently, Gayle shared an Instagram story where he can be seen sweating it out at the gym and revealed that he is preparing for IPL 2023. Here's Gayle's story: ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds Chris Gayle Instagram Story 😍😍 Can't wait to see @henrygayle Universe Boss💪 in the next season of IPL (IPL 2023) #IPL2022 #RCBvsKKR #KKRvRCB pic.twitter.com/PlKhtURnhv — Cricket Countdown (@Cric8Countdown) March 30, 2022 × ALSO READ | Updated IPL 2022 points table after Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore game For the unversed, Gayle is an IPL legend. He has represented the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in his glittering IPL career, amassing 4,965 runs at 39.72 and a strike rate of 148.96. Gayle is the seventh-highest run-getter overall; third-most runs among foreign players in the IPL. In addition, he has as many as six IPL tons (most by any batter). Gayle was part of the PBKS squad since 2018, however, he wasn't a regular in the playing XI in the last two seasons before he withdrew from the second and final leg of IPL 2021, citing bio-bubble fatigue. It will be interesting to see which team acquires his services if he returns for IPL 2023.

Universe Boss' show not over yet! Chris Gayle kicks off preparations for IPL 2023 - see pic

Sandeep Sharma is no stranger to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The medium pacer from Punjab made his debut in 2013 and during his stints with Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, he picked up 112 wickets in the competition. It was sort of a homecoming for Sandeep as he was picked by Punjab Kings ahead of 2022 season and currently, he is one of the senior campaigners in the side.<o:p></o:p>

The Mayank Agarwal-led side started the tournament on a positive note as they chased down a target of 206 runs to clinch the win against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Speaking exclusively to WION, Sandeep opened up about the game and the feeling in the dressing room after the win.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/universe-boss-show-not-over-yet-chris-gayle-kicks-off-preparations-for-ipl-2023-see-pic-467065" hreflang="en">Universe Boss' show not over yet! Chris Gayle kicks off preparations for IPL 2023 - see pic</a>

&nbsp;“It is always a good feeling to win the first game of the tournament and we want to carry forward that momentum. Chasing 200 runs is very difficult but our batting was able to pull it off. It was a very positive result and the entire dressing room is extremely happy with what we were able to achieve.”<o:p></o:p>

The one thing that caught the attention of most experts during the match was the number of extras conceded by both sides. A total of 45 extras was conceded during the face-off – an IPL record – including 33 wides (12 from Punjab bowlers).&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

In this regard, Sandeep explained dew as a factor but believes that wides were mainly conceded due to the bowlers’ reluctance to bowl in the batter's hitting arc.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harshal-patel-equals-ipl-record-with-back-to-back-maiden-overs-against-kolkata-knight-riders-466982" hreflang="en">Harshal Patel equals IPL record with back-to-back maiden overs against Kolkata Knight Riders</a>

“The conditions were okay and it was mainly a batting wicket. I feel the bowlers did not want to come into the batsman’s arc and as they wanted to stay away from that line, they ended up bowling wide. Dew was also there and in coming games, it will become a factor,” the 28-year-old said.<o:p></o:p>

This year’s IPL will be played in just four venues around Maharashtra and the constant fixtures can result in pitches slowing down gradually towards the end of the tournament. However, Sandeep said that he is hoping for that to happen and only the Pune pitch can see big changes in the future.<o:p></o:p>

“I am not hoping for that as all the venues have 4-5 pitches and they will have 3-4 games each. Pitches in Maharashtra are very good and I think they will be able to sustain 4 games. As I said, dew will also play a part and once dew sets in, the ball will not move even if the wicket is slow. Maybe the pitches will slow down a little but the impact will not be that much.”

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-is-cristiano-ronaldo-of-cricket-punjab-kings-star-lavishes-praise-on-former-rcb-skipper-466978" hreflang="en">Virat Kohli is Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket: Punjab Kings star lavishes praise on former RCB skipper</a>

“Maybe the Pune wicket can be different as dew is not a factor that much and the pitches are black soil pitches. So that is the only place where we can see a bit of change in conditions,” he added.<o:p></o:p>

Over the years, Sandeep has bowled to a number of world-class batsmen in the tournament and when asked about his toughest challenges, he was quick to name three seasoned veterans.<o:p></o:p>

“With the new ball, Suresh Raina was the most challenging batsman for me. With the old ball, I will have to say MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers as they are both amazing finishers,” Sandeep concluded.<o:p></o:p>

Sandeep Sharma is no stranger to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The medium pacer from Punjab made his debut in 2013 and during his stints with Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, he picked up 112 wickets in the competition.

Sandeep Sharma is no stranger to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The medium pacer from Punjab made his debut in 2013 and during his stints with Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, he picked up 112 wickets in the competition. It was sort of a homecoming for Sandeep as he was picked by Punjab Kings ahead of 2022 season and currently, he is one of the senior campaigners in the side. The Mayank Agarwal-led side started the tournament on a positive note as they chased down a target of 206 runs to clinch the win against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Speaking exclusively to WION, Sandeep opened up about the game and the feeling in the dressing room after the win. Also read | Universe Boss' show not over yet! Chris Gayle kicks off preparations for IPL 2023 - see pic “It is always a good feeling to win the first game of the tournament and we want to carry forward that momentum. Chasing 200 runs is very difficult but our batting was able to pull it off. It was a very positive result and the entire dressing room is extremely happy with what we were able to achieve.” The one thing that caught the attention of most experts during the match was the number of extras conceded by both sides. A total of 45 extras was conceded during the face-off – an IPL record – including 33 wides (12 from Punjab bowlers). In this regard, Sandeep explained dew as a factor but believes that wides were mainly conceded due to the bowlers’ reluctance to bowl in the batter's hitting arc. Also read | Harshal Patel equals IPL record with back-to-back maiden overs against Kolkata Knight Riders “The conditions were okay and it was mainly a batting wicket. I feel the bowlers did not want to come into the batsman’s arc and as they wanted to stay away from that line, they ended up bowling wide. Dew was also there and in coming games, it will become a factor,” the 28-year-old said. This year’s IPL will be played in just four venues around Maharashtra and the constant fixtures can result in pitches slowing down gradually towards the end of the tournament. However, Sandeep said that he is hoping for that to happen and only the Pune pitch can see big changes in the future. “I am not hoping for that as all the venues have 4-5 pitches and they will have 3-4 games each. Pitches in Maharashtra are very good and I think they will be able to sustain 4 games. As I said, dew will also play a part and once dew sets in, the ball will not move even if the wicket is slow. Maybe the pitches will slow down a little but the impact will not be that much.” Also read | Virat Kohli is Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket: Punjab Kings star lavishes praise on former RCB skipper “Maybe the Pune wicket can be different as dew is not a factor that much and the pitches are black soil pitches. So that is the only place where we can see a bit of change in conditions,” he added. Over the years, Sandeep has bowled to a number of world-class batsmen in the tournament and when asked about his toughest challenges, he was quick to name three seasoned veterans. “With the new ball, Suresh Raina was the most challenging batsman for me. With the old ball, I will have to say MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers as they are both amazing finishers,” Sandeep concluded.

EXCLUSIVE: Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers were the most challenging to bowl to, says Sandeep Sharma

Virat Kohli is one of the fittest crickets in the world and has been an inspiration for several young players, who look up to the former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain. Kohli's love and dedication to fitness is a secret to none and his work ethic has been praised by many.

Kohli was not the fittest of cricketers when he had started out for Team India in international cricket but brought several changes in his lifestyle and diet to undergo a stunning transformation. One of the best batters in the world at present, Kohli has been one of the most consistent performers for his teams across all formats.

Recently, Sri Lankan batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who is playing for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, heaped praise on Kohli. The Punjab Kings star is looking forward to meeting Kohli and getting some advice for him on fitness having been dropped from the Sri Lankan team earlier this year due to fitness issues.

Rajapaksa also called Kohli the Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket, comparing the Indian superstar with the Portuguese football icon. Even at 37, Ronaldo remains one of the fittest athletes in the world and continues to break records for his club and country.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/expecting-600-runs-from-virat-kohli-in-ipl-2022-rcb-legend-makes-bold-prediction-for-former-skipper-466934">Expecting 600-plus runs from Virat Kohli in IPL 2022: RCB legend makes bold prediction for former skipper</a>

"Outside of the team, Virat Kohli is always someone I could speak to and get some advice on fitness. He’s at another different level when it comes to fitness. To me, he is the Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket for sure. The work he puts in, you can obviously see the results. You can compare him to anyone when it comes to fitness or even skills-wise. He plays so hard and you can learn a lot by talking to him," Rajapaksa told PTI in an interview.

The Sri Lankan batter, who impressed on his IPL debut with a crucial knock of 22-ball 43 against RCB in their opening game, stressed the importance of fitness for cricketers and said he has been working hard on his body to ensure he can be on top of his game.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/would-be-great-to-see-virat-kohli-babar-azam-open-in-ipl-akhtar-predicts-price-tag-of-pakistan-captain-466900">Would be great to see Virat Kohli, Babar Azam open in IPL: Akhtar predicts price tag of Pakistan captain</a>

"As a player, you need your fitness but it could be different from person to person. For me, of course, skill comes first and then the fitness. But if you are not fit enough, you definitely can’t perform. I’m actually working hard on my fitness. Whenever I get a free day I hit the gym early in the morning," said Rajapaksa.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Virat Kohli is one of the fittest crickets in the world and has been an inspiration for several young players, who look up to the former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain.

Virat Kohli is one of the fittest crickets in the world and has been an inspiration for several young players, who look up to the former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain. Kohli's love and dedication to fitness is a secret to none and his work ethic has been praised by many. Kohli was not the fittest of cricketers when he had started out for Team India in international cricket but brought several changes in his lifestyle and diet to undergo a stunning transformation. One of the best batters in the world at present, Kohli has been one of the most consistent performers for his teams across all formats. Recently, Sri Lankan batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who is playing for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, heaped praise on Kohli. The Punjab Kings star is looking forward to meeting Kohli and getting some advice for him on fitness having been dropped from the Sri Lankan team earlier this year due to fitness issues. Rajapaksa also called Kohli the Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket, comparing the Indian superstar with the Portuguese football icon. Even at 37, Ronaldo remains one of the fittest athletes in the world and continues to break records for his club and country. Also Read: Expecting 600-plus runs from Virat Kohli in IPL 2022: RCB legend makes bold prediction for former skipper "Outside of the team, Virat Kohli is always someone I could speak to and get some advice on fitness. He’s at another different level when it comes to fitness. To me, he is the Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket for sure. The work he puts in, you can obviously see the results. You can compare him to anyone when it comes to fitness or even skills-wise. He plays so hard and you can learn a lot by talking to him," Rajapaksa told PTI in an interview. The Sri Lankan batter, who impressed on his IPL debut with a crucial knock of 22-ball 43 against RCB in their opening game, stressed the importance of fitness for cricketers and said he has been working hard on his body to ensure he can be on top of his game. Also Read: Would be great to see Virat Kohli, Babar Azam open in IPL: Akhtar predicts price tag of Pakistan captain "As a player, you need your fitness but it could be different from person to person. For me, of course, skill comes first and then the fitness. But if you are not fit enough, you definitely can’t perform. I’m actually working hard on my fitness. Whenever I get a free day I hit the gym early in the morning," said Rajapaksa.

Virat Kohli is Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket: Punjab Kings star lavishes praise on former RCB skipper

Newly-appointed skipper Faf du Plessis' scintillating 57-ball 88 went in vain as Punjab Kings produced a solid batting display to script a successful chase for a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a thrilling IPL match here on Sunday.

While Du Plessis showed his six-hitting prowess, hammering seven maximums in his whirlwind knock, Virat Kohli also chipped in with an unbeaten 41 off 29 balls and Dinesh Karthik made a quick fire 32 not out as RCB posted a massive 205 for 2 after being invited to bat.

The chase was steep but not impossible and Punjab produced a sensational effort to overhaul the target, scoring 208 for 5 with an entire over to spare.

While Mayank Agarwal (32 off 24) and Shikhar Dhawan (43 off 29) added 71 for the first wicket to lay the foundation for the chase, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (43 off 22) also shone on his IPL debut but Punjab suffered a collapse to be down and out at 156 for 5.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-skipper-faf-du-plessis-scripts-ipl-history-with-brilliant-knock-against-punjab-kings-466087">Faf du Plessis scripts IPL history with brilliant knock against Punjab Kings</a>

However, Shahrukh Khan (24 not out off 20 balls) and Odean Smith (25 not out off 8 balls) then joined hands to complete the job in the end. The duo shared a 52-run unbroken stand off just 25 balls for the sixth wicket to take Punjab home.

Smith smashed three sixes and a four off Mohammed Siraj in the 18th over to accumulate 25 runs and bring down the equation to 11 from the final two overs.

Shahrukh, who hit one four and two maximums, finished the game with a boundary as Mayank Agarwal started his captaincy tenure with a win.

Earlier, RCB skipper du Plessis and Kohli added 118 runs for the second wicket after the former and Anuj Rawat (21) had laid the foundation with their 50 run-stand.

RCB amassed 11 'extra' runs, off the second over off Arshdeep Singh. Du Plessis got his first boundary in the third, while in the same over, Rawat hit his first maximum, as RCB raced to 23/0.

Rawat hit successive boundaries in the sixth over, off Odean Smith. But leg-spinner Rahul Chahar (1/22) cut shot Rawat's stay by cleaning him up in the seventh over.

Kohli came in and he took time to settle down.

After successive twos, Kohli's first maximum came in the 10th over as RCB fetched 13 runs off it and at 70/1, the foundation was laid for a big total.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-mumbai-indians-skipper-rohit-sharma-fined-rs-12-lakh-for-slow-over-rate-against-delhi-capitals-466077" hreflang="en">MI skipper Rohit Sharma fined Rs 12 lakh for slow over-rate vs DC</a>

The former South Africa skipper, who got a 'life', made optimum use of it and then upped the ante, as the carnage started from the 12th over when he hammered a towering six off Liam Livingstone.

Du Plessis was brutal on Odean Smith, whom he hammered for a boundary and two successive sixes. He followed it up with two sixes off Harpreet Brar (0/38).

Kohli, who hit a four and two sixes, was also in his elements, as he played shots at will. He, however, played second fiddle to Du Plessis when the South African was in full flow.

Du Plessis was dismissed in the 18th over, but by then the damage had been done.

A quick-fire 32 from Karthik off just 14 balls, in which he smashed three sixes and as many fours, took RCB beyond the 200-run mark.&nbsp;

Newly-appointed skipper Faf du Plessis' scintillating 57-ball 88 went in vain as Punjab Kings produced a solid batting display to script a successful chase for a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a thrilling IPL match here on Sunday.

Newly-appointed skipper Faf du Plessis' scintillating 57-ball 88 went in vain as Punjab Kings produced a solid batting display to script a successful chase for a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a thrilling IPL match here on Sunday. While Du Plessis showed his six-hitting prowess, hammering seven maximums in his whirlwind knock, Virat Kohli also chipped in with an unbeaten 41 off 29 balls and Dinesh Karthik made a quick fire 32 not out as RCB posted a massive 205 for 2 after being invited to bat. The chase was steep but not impossible and Punjab produced a sensational effort to overhaul the target, scoring 208 for 5 with an entire over to spare. While Mayank Agarwal (32 off 24) and Shikhar Dhawan (43 off 29) added 71 for the first wicket to lay the foundation for the chase, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (43 off 22) also shone on his IPL debut but Punjab suffered a collapse to be down and out at 156 for 5. Also read | Faf du Plessis scripts IPL history with brilliant knock against Punjab Kings However, Shahrukh Khan (24 not out off 20 balls) and Odean Smith (25 not out off 8 balls) then joined hands to complete the job in the end. The duo shared a 52-run unbroken stand off just 25 balls for the sixth wicket to take Punjab home. Smith smashed three sixes and a four off Mohammed Siraj in the 18th over to accumulate 25 runs and bring down the equation to 11 from the final two overs. Shahrukh, who hit one four and two maximums, finished the game with a boundary as Mayank Agarwal started his captaincy tenure with a win. Earlier, RCB skipper du Plessis and Kohli added 118 runs for the second wicket after the former and Anuj Rawat (21) had laid the foundation with their 50 run-stand. RCB amassed 11 'extra' runs, off the second over off Arshdeep Singh. Du Plessis got his first boundary in the third, while in the same over, Rawat hit his first maximum, as RCB raced to 23/0. Rawat hit successive boundaries in the sixth over, off Odean Smith. But leg-spinner Rahul Chahar (1/22) cut shot Rawat's stay by cleaning him up in the seventh over. Kohli came in and he took time to settle down. After successive twos, Kohli's first maximum came in the 10th over as RCB fetched 13 runs off it and at 70/1, the foundation was laid for a big total. Also read | MI skipper Rohit Sharma fined Rs 12 lakh for slow over-rate vs DC The former South Africa skipper, who got a 'life', made optimum use of it and then upped the ante, as the carnage started from the 12th over when he hammered a towering six off Liam Livingstone. Du Plessis was brutal on Odean Smith, whom he hammered for a boundary and two successive sixes. He followed it up with two sixes off Harpreet Brar (0/38). Kohli, who hit a four and two sixes, was also in his elements, as he played shots at will. He, however, played second fiddle to Du Plessis when the South African was in full flow. Du Plessis was dismissed in the 18th over, but by then the damage had been done. A quick-fire 32 from Karthik off just 14 balls, in which he smashed three sixes and as many fours, took RCB beyond the 200-run mark.

IPL 2022: Punjab Kings pull off sensational run chase to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore

IPL 2022: Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings register impressive wins on Day 2

Punjab Kings pulled off a sensational run chase to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but in the process, the two teams also broke the record of most extras recorded during an IPL game as both set of bowlers struggled in Mumbai.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-numbers-reveal-one-area-of-concern-for-lucknow-super-giants-skipper-kl-rahul-466400" hreflang="en">Numbers reveal one area of concern for Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul</a>

A total of 45 extras was conceded by both sides – the most ever in the history of IPL surpassing the previous record of 38 which was registered on two instances. It happened in 2008 during the match between Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders. A similar figure was record again when Kings XI Punjab (as Punjab Kings were previously known) took on Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2010 season.<o:p></o:p>

Punjab’s tally of 23 extras was also the sixth highest in IPL history followed by RCB’s 22. The top spot in the list belongs to Kolkata Knight Riders who conceded 28 extras in the 2008 encounter.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-providing-so-many-talents-to-indian-cricket-psl-hardly-doing-anything-for-pakistan-says-dinesh-kaneria-466351" hreflang="en">"IPL providing so many talents to Indian cricket, PSL hardly doing anything"</a>

It was a tough day for the bowlers as a combined 413 runs was scored at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. Punjab ended up conceding 5 byes, 6 leg byes and 12 wides while RCB conceded one leg bye and 21 wides – 14 of which were bowled by their pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj.<o:p></o:p>

Faf Du Plessis scored a brilliant 88 to guide RCB to a challenging 205/2 after 20 overs but Punjab were able to register their third-highest successful chase in IPL history to clinch the encounter as Odean Smith and Shah Rukh Khan played a blinder towards the end of the innings to win with one over to spare.

Punjab Kings pulled off a sensational run chase to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but in the process, the two teams also broke the record of most extras recorded during an IPL game as both set of bowlers struggled in Mumbai.

Punjab Kings pulled off a sensational run chase to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but in the process, the two teams also broke the record of most extras recorded during an IPL game as both set of bowlers struggled in Mumbai. Also read | Numbers reveal one area of concern for Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul A total of 45 extras was conceded by both sides – the most ever in the history of IPL surpassing the previous record of 38 which was registered on two instances. It happened in 2008 during the match between Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders. A similar figure was record again when Kings XI Punjab (as Punjab Kings were previously known) took on Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2010 season. Punjab’s tally of 23 extras was also the sixth highest in IPL history followed by RCB’s 22. The top spot in the list belongs to Kolkata Knight Riders who conceded 28 extras in the 2008 encounter. Also read | "IPL providing so many talents to Indian cricket, PSL hardly doing anything" It was a tough day for the bowlers as a combined 413 runs was scored at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. Punjab ended up conceding 5 byes, 6 leg byes and 12 wides while RCB conceded one leg bye and 21 wides – 14 of which were bowled by their pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj. Faf Du Plessis scored a brilliant 88 to guide RCB to a challenging 205/2 after 20 overs but Punjab were able to register their third-highest successful chase in IPL history to clinch the encounter as Odean Smith and Shah Rukh Khan played a blinder towards the end of the innings to win with one over to spare.

33 wides! RCB and Punjab Kings register bizarre record in high-scoring IPL 2022 clash

Punjab Kings would be "more than interested" if they are offered to own a team in the proposed Women's IPL next year, their co-owner Ness Wadia said on Monday.

In an IPL Governing Council meeting last week, a five to six-team Women's IPL was proposed for next year with the existing franchises getting first preference to be part of the competition.

"We would be more than interested in that (Women's IPL). IPL for women is long overdue and it would be very special when it happens. Women's cricket has really developed over the years," Wadia told PTI.

"The World Cup is going on right now and there is so much interest for the women's game. It was heartbreaking to see our team lose yesterday."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mithali-raj-achieves-unique-feat-becomes-oldest-indian-cricketer-to-score-half-century-in-womens-world-cup-465894">Mithali Raj creates world record, becomes oldest Indian cricketer to score half-century in Women's World Cup</a>

Asked about the base price for owning a women's team, Wadia said: "That is for the BCCI to decide but I can tell you if we are asked to own a team we would be more than interested. I feel the league would be sustainable as well."

The BCCI has been under a bit of pressure to organise the Women's IPL.

Women's Big Bash in Australia has been taking place since 2015-2016 and a Women's Hundred competition was also staged in the UK last year. Cricket West Indies will organise a three-team CPL from this year onwards.

BCCI pocketed over a billion dollars for selling two new men's IPL teams. The Board is expecting another windfall with the IPL media rights up for grabs. Star had paid approximately Rs 16,000 crore for the 2018-2022 cycle.

The next five-year cycle could fetch as much as Rs 40,000 crore.

"I would be surprised if it doesn't double at least. Upwards of 35000 crore for sure," said Wadia.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-will-open-with-gill-gujarat-titans-predicted-xi-for-ipl-2022-game-against-lucknow-super-giants-466332">Who will open with Gill? Gujarat Titans predicted XI for IPL 2022 game against Lucknow Super Giants</a>

The IPL 2022 began in Mumbai on Saturday and the Indian national anthem was played before the start of the game between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.

Punjab Kings had proposed the idea to the BCCI.

"We discussed with Jay Shah and Sourav Ganguly and they were more than happy to go ahead with it. The national anthem is played in sporting leagues in the USA.

"I am a die hard patriot and was overjoyed when it (National Anthem) was played. It is the Indian Premier League after all," Wadia added.

Punjab Kings would be "more than interested" if they are offered to own a team in the proposed Women's IPL next year, their co-owner Ness Wadia said on Monday. In an IPL Governing Council meeting last week, a five to six-team Women's IPL was proposed for next year with the existing franchises getting first preference to be part of the competition.

Punjab Kings would be "more than interested" if they are offered to own a team in the proposed Women's IPL next year, their co-owner Ness Wadia said on Monday. In an IPL Governing Council meeting last week, a five to six-team Women's IPL was proposed for next year with the existing franchises getting first preference to be part of the competition. "We would be more than interested in that (Women's IPL). IPL for women is long overdue and it would be very special when it happens. Women's cricket has really developed over the years," Wadia told PTI. "The World Cup is going on right now and there is so much interest for the women's game. It was heartbreaking to see our team lose yesterday." ALSO READ: Mithali Raj creates world record, becomes oldest Indian cricketer to score half-century in Women's World Cup Asked about the base price for owning a women's team, Wadia said: "That is for the BCCI to decide but I can tell you if we are asked to own a team we would be more than interested. I feel the league would be sustainable as well." The BCCI has been under a bit of pressure to organise the Women's IPL. Women's Big Bash in Australia has been taking place since 2015-2016 and a Women's Hundred competition was also staged in the UK last year. Cricket West Indies will organise a three-team CPL from this year onwards. BCCI pocketed over a billion dollars for selling two new men's IPL teams. The Board is expecting another windfall with the IPL media rights up for grabs. Star had paid approximately Rs 16,000 crore for the 2018-2022 cycle. The next five-year cycle could fetch as much as Rs 40,000 crore. "I would be surprised if it doesn't double at least. Upwards of 35000 crore for sure," said Wadia. ALSO READ: Who will open with Gill? Gujarat Titans predicted XI for IPL 2022 game against Lucknow Super Giants The IPL 2022 began in Mumbai on Saturday and the Indian national anthem was played before the start of the game between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. Punjab Kings had proposed the idea to the BCCI. "We discussed with Jay Shah and Sourav Ganguly and they were more than happy to go ahead with it. The national anthem is played in sporting leagues in the USA. "I am a die hard patriot and was overjoyed when it (National Anthem) was played. It is the Indian Premier League after all," Wadia added.

We would be 'more than interested' to own a team in Women's IPL, says Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia

The cricketing action will continue on IPL 2022's second day itself. On Sunday (March 27), the 15th season will see its first doubleheader as Mumbai Indians (MI) face Delhi Capitals in the afternoon game whereas two new-look teams in the form of Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mayank Agarwal's Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns with each other in the evening encounter.

Talking about the second game of the doubleheader, it will be an exciting contest between two teams who have changed a whole lot since the last season. For Punjab, they will have a new captain once again after KL Rahul left the franchise to join the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Mayank will step into his shoes and has a power-packed squad, comprising the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Rahul Chahar, etc. Jonny Bairstow is currently involved in England's third and final Test versus West Indies in the Caribbean island and, hence, his absence will be felt. Nonetheless, PBKS have most of their players which should keep them in good stead.&nbsp;

On the other hand, the perennial underachievers RCB will be led by Faf du Plessis. He steps into the big shoes of Virat Kohli, who resigned from the top post after IPL 2021. Faf will have Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik's experience along with him but the Aussie all-rounder will miss the opening few games due to his marriage. Bengaluru still have enough firepower to rely upon and will give a tough competition to the Punjab line-up.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/kkr-begin-ipl-2022-campaign-with-six-wicket-victory-over-csk-465818">KKR begin IPL 2022 campaign with six-wicket victory over CSK</a>

It will be interesting to see how the bowlers from both sides utilise the DY Patil Stadium's surface, which has been used as a football ground of late. The captains will also be put to test to rotate their bowlers and set a template for their batters on a pitch which can have anything on offer.&nbsp;

Match prediction for RCB vs PBKS: The surface at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai continues to be the biggest talking point ahead of the season. Being in the early days of IPL 2022, not much can be predicted on how it will come into play. If one analyses the two teams on paper, Punjab pack a solid punch, however, it remains to be seen how well they gel and show up on the field versus the three-time runners-up.

In head-to-head, Punjab lead RCB 15-13.&nbsp;

The cricketing action will continue on IPL 2022's second day itself. On Sunday (March 27), the 15th season will see its first doubleheader as Mumbai Indians (MI) face Delhi Capitals in the afternoon game whereas two new-look teams in the form of Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mayank Agarwal's Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns with each other in the evening encounter.

The cricketing action will continue on IPL 2022's second day itself. On Sunday (March 27), the 15th season will see its first doubleheader as Mumbai Indians (MI) face Delhi Capitals in the afternoon game whereas two new-look teams in the form of Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mayank Agarwal's Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns with each other in the evening encounter. Talking about the second game of the doubleheader, it will be an exciting contest between two teams who have changed a whole lot since the last season. For Punjab, they will have a new captain once again after KL Rahul left the franchise to join the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Mayank will step into his shoes and has a power-packed squad, comprising the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Rahul Chahar, etc. Jonny Bairstow is currently involved in England's third and final Test versus West Indies in the Caribbean island and, hence, his absence will be felt. Nonetheless, PBKS have most of their players which should keep them in good stead. On the other hand, the perennial underachievers RCB will be led by Faf du Plessis. He steps into the big shoes of Virat Kohli, who resigned from the top post after IPL 2021. Faf will have Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik's experience along with him but the Aussie all-rounder will miss the opening few games due to his marriage. Bengaluru still have enough firepower to rely upon and will give a tough competition to the Punjab line-up. ALSO READ | KKR begin IPL 2022 campaign with six-wicket victory over CSK It will be interesting to see how the bowlers from both sides utilise the DY Patil Stadium's surface, which has been used as a football ground of late. The captains will also be put to test to rotate their bowlers and set a template for their batters on a pitch which can have anything on offer. Match prediction for RCB vs PBKS: The surface at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai continues to be the biggest talking point ahead of the season. Being in the early days of IPL 2022, not much can be predicted on how it will come into play. If one analyses the two teams on paper, Punjab pack a solid punch, however, it remains to be seen how well they gel and show up on the field versus the three-time runners-up. In head-to-head, Punjab lead RCB 15-13.

RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings match?

Faf du Plessis had a dream start to his stint as Royal Challengers Bangalore captain as he scored an impressive 88 from 57 deliveries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against Punjab Kings on Sunday. The South Africa opener slammed three fours and seven sixes during his innings.<o:p></o:p>

Faf started slow along with Anuj Rawat but keep accelerating with time as he stitched together a 108-run partnership with Virat Kohli to take his side to a total of 205 for the loss of two wickets.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-mumbai-indians-skipper-rohit-sharma-fined-rs-12-lakh-for-slow-over-rate-against-delhi-capitals-466077" hreflang="en">MI skipper Rohit Sharma fined Rs 12 lakh for slow over-rate vs DC</a><o:p></o:p>

Thanks to his brilliant knock, Faf scripted history by claiming the record of most runs scored by an overseas player on captaincy debut. The previous record belonged to Kieron Pollard who scored 83 when he played his first game as captain of Mumbai Indians during the 2019 season.<o:p></o:p>

Overall, he is currently in fourth position behind Sanju Samson’s 119f or Rajasthan Royals, Mayank Agarwal's 99 for Punjab Kings and 93 by Shreyas Iyer on his captaincy debut for Delhi Capitals.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-gujarat-lions-unveil-vice-captain-ahead-of-lucknow-super-giants-encounter-466079" hreflang="en">Gujarat Lions unveil vice-captain ahead of Lucknow Super Giants encounter</a><o:p></o:p>

During his innings, Faf also completed 3000 career runs in IPL and became the third fastest batsman to reach the milestone. He is currently joint third in the list with David Warner who also took 94 innings to score 3000 runs. Chris Gayle was the fastest (75 innings) followed by KL Rahul.<o:p></o:p>

Kohli provided able support to Faf during the innings with a 32-ball-41 and Dinesh Karthik launched a late onslaught (32 off 14 deliveries) to take RCB to a solid total in their tournament opener.<o:p></o:p>

Faf du Plessis had a dream start to his stint as Royal Challengers Bangalore captain as he scored an impressive 88 from 57 deliveries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against Punjab Kings on Sunday.

Faf du Plessis had a dream start to his stint as Royal Challengers Bangalore captain as he scored an impressive 88 from 57 deliveries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against Punjab Kings on Sunday. The South Africa opener slammed three fours and seven sixes during his innings. Faf started slow along with Anuj Rawat but keep accelerating with time as he stitched together a 108-run partnership with Virat Kohli to take his side to a total of 205 for the loss of two wickets. Also read | MI skipper Rohit Sharma fined Rs 12 lakh for slow over-rate vs DC Thanks to his brilliant knock, Faf scripted history by claiming the record of most runs scored by an overseas player on captaincy debut. The previous record belonged to Kieron Pollard who scored 83 when he played his first game as captain of Mumbai Indians during the 2019 season. Overall, he is currently in fourth position behind Sanju Samson’s 119f or Rajasthan Royals, Mayank Agarwal's 99 for Punjab Kings and 93 by Shreyas Iyer on his captaincy debut for Delhi Capitals. Also read | Gujarat Lions unveil vice-captain ahead of Lucknow Super Giants encounter During his innings, Faf also completed 3000 career runs in IPL and became the third fastest batsman to reach the milestone. He is currently joint third in the list with David Warner who also took 94 innings to score 3000 runs. Chris Gayle was the fastest (75 innings) followed by KL Rahul. Kohli provided able support to Faf during the innings with a 32-ball-41 and Dinesh Karthik launched a late onslaught (32 off 14 deliveries) to take RCB to a solid total in their tournament opener.

RCB skipper Faf du Plessis scripts IPL history with brilliant knock against Punjab Kings

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be hoping for a fresh start under the leadership of new skipper Faf du Plessis when they take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season at the Dy Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday (March 27). Both RCB and PBKS are yet to win their maiden IPL title and are heading into the 2022 season with new captains at the helm.

While Du Plessis has replaced Virat Kohli as the new captain of RCB, Mayank Agarwal will be leading Punjab Kings after being appointed as the full-time captain of the franchise following KL Rahul's exit. Both RCB and PBKS had&nbsp;revamped their respective squads ahead of the new season and will be looking to get off to a winning start.

Punjab had retained only two players ahead of the mega auction in the form of their skipper Mayank and young pacer Harpreet Brar. They went on to rope in the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone among others to build a formidable squad with a great mix of youth and experience.

However, both Bairstow and Rabada are set to miss the opener against RCB and PBKS will face a tricky situation in picking their four overseas players for the clash. While they will have Shikhar Dhawan opening the batting, Livingstone might bat at number four.

Odean Smith, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell and Nathan Ellis are the only other overseas players available for selection for PBKS and it remains to be seen who will make the cut in the final XI.

RCB will rely heavily on Du Plessis to get them a good start at the top and are likely to head into the clash with a trio of all-rounders in the form of Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey and Sherfane Rutherford, who can all be game-changers with the bat and the ball. Du Plessis is likely to open with Anuj Rawat with Kohli batting at no.3 in Glenn Maxwell's absence.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-will-virat-kohli-open-with-faf-du-plessis-rcbs-predicted-playing-xi-for-punjab-kings-clash-465897">IPL 2022: Will Virat Kohli open with Faf du Plessis? RCB's predicted playing XI for Punjab Kings clash</a>

Here is all you need to know about the RCB vs PBKS clash in IPL 2022:

Head to head:

Punjab Kings have a slight edge over Royal Challengers Bangalore when it comes to the head to head record between the two teams. Punjab have 15 wins to their name in 28 meetings against RCB compared to the latter's 13.

Stats:

Virat Kohli has the most runs against Punjab Kings among all batters in the current RCB squad. Kohli has 741 runs against the Punjab franchise and will look to extend his tally with a big knock on Sunday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-no-rabada-bairstow-mayank-agarwal-led-punjab-kings-predicted-playing-xi-for-rcb-clash-465971">IPL 2022: No Rabada, Bairstow! Mayank Agarwal-led Punjab Kings predicted playing XI for RCB clash</a>

Trivia:

In the last five encounters between the two teams, Punjab Kings have managed to beat RCB thrice. However, in the previous meeting between the two teams, RCB came out on top against Punjab by six runs.

Squads:

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis(c), Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Sherfane Rutherford, Dinesh Karthik(w), Mahipal Lomror, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj, Siddarth Kaul, Karn Sharma, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Luvnith Sisodia, Chama V Milind, Akash Deep, Aneeshwar Gautam

Punjab Kings: Mayank Agarwal(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh(w), Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Sharma, Rishi Dhawan, Benny Howell, Ishan Porel, Nathan Ellis, Raj Bawa, Baltej Singh, Writtick Chatterjee, Jitesh Sharma, Prerak Mankad, Atharva Taide, Vaibhav Arora, Ansh Patel

&nbsp;

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be hoping for a fresh start under the leadership of new skipper Faf du Plessis when they take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season at the Dy Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday (March 27).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be hoping for a fresh start under the leadership of new skipper Faf du Plessis when they take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season at the Dy Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday (March 27). Both RCB and PBKS are yet to win their maiden IPL title and are heading into the 2022 season with new captains at the helm. While Du Plessis has replaced Virat Kohli as the new captain of RCB, Mayank Agarwal will be leading Punjab Kings after being appointed as the full-time captain of the franchise following KL Rahul's exit. Both RCB and PBKS had revamped their respective squads ahead of the new season and will be looking to get off to a winning start. Punjab had retained only two players ahead of the mega auction in the form of their skipper Mayank and young pacer Harpreet Brar. They went on to rope in the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone among others to build a formidable squad with a great mix of youth and experience. However, both Bairstow and Rabada are set to miss the opener against RCB and PBKS will face a tricky situation in picking their four overseas players for the clash. While they will have Shikhar Dhawan opening the batting, Livingstone might bat at number four. Odean Smith, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell and Nathan Ellis are the only other overseas players available for selection for PBKS and it remains to be seen who will make the cut in the final XI. RCB will rely heavily on Du Plessis to get them a good start at the top and are likely to head into the clash with a trio of all-rounders in the form of Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey and Sherfane Rutherford, who can all be game-changers with the bat and the ball. Du Plessis is likely to open with Anuj Rawat with Kohli batting at no.3 in Glenn Maxwell's absence. Also Read: IPL 2022: Will Virat Kohli open with Faf du Plessis? RCB's predicted playing XI for Punjab Kings clash Here is all you need to know about the RCB vs PBKS clash in IPL 2022: Head to head: Punjab Kings have a slight edge over Royal Challengers Bangalore when it comes to the head to head record between the two teams. Punjab have 15 wins to their name in 28 meetings against RCB compared to the latter's 13. Stats: Virat Kohli has the most runs against Punjab Kings among all batters in the current RCB squad. Kohli has 741 runs against the Punjab franchise and will look to extend his tally with a big knock on Sunday. Also Read: IPL 2022: No Rabada, Bairstow! Mayank Agarwal-led Punjab Kings predicted playing XI for RCB clash Trivia: In the last five encounters between the two teams, Punjab Kings have managed to beat RCB thrice. However, in the previous meeting between the two teams, RCB came out on top against Punjab by six runs. Squads: Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis(c), Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Sherfane Rutherford, Dinesh Karthik(w), Mahipal Lomror, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj, Siddarth Kaul, Karn Sharma, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Luvnith Sisodia, Chama V Milind, Akash Deep, Aneeshwar Gautam Punjab Kings: Mayank Agarwal(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh(w), Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Sharma, Rishi Dhawan, Benny Howell, Ishan Porel, Nathan Ellis, Raj Bawa, Baltej Singh, Writtick Chatterjee, Jitesh Sharma, Prerak Mankad, Atharva Taide, Vaibhav Arora, Ansh Patel

IPL 2022: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads

Punjab Kings will be looking to start their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on a high as they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their opening match in Mumbai on Sunday.<o:p></o:p>

The franchise went into the auction with a huge budget as they retained just two players – Mayank Agarwal, who will be leading the side this year, and young bowler Arshdeep Singh.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-will-virat-kohli-open-with-faf-du-plessis-rcbs-predicted-playing-xi-for-punjab-kings-clash-465897" hreflang="en">Will Kohli open with Du Plessis? RCB's predicted playing XI vs PBKS</a><o:p></o:p>

However, their performance in the auction has quickly made them a favourite ahead of the season and although Punjab Kings will be missing two big money signings in England wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow and South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada, they currently boast of an impressive XI.<o:p></o:p>

Mayank Agarwal will be opening the batting for his side and he will be accompanied by the vastly experienced Shikhar Dhawan who will be looking to prove a point after being released by Delhi Capitals. The next two slots will go to two of the power hitters in the side – Liam Livingstone who is known for his destructive bowling and all-rounder Shahrukh Khan who costed them INR 9 crore.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/south-africa-beat-india-in-last-ball-thriller-as-mithali-raj-co-crash-out-of-womens-world-cup-2022-465912">SA beat India in last-ball thriller to dump them out of Women's WC 2022</a><o:p></o:p>

With Bairstow not in the team for the match, Prabhsimran Singh is expected to keep wickets and in the middle order, he will be joined by Harpreet Brar and West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith.<o:p></o:p>

Nathan Ellis, Sandeep Sharma and Arshdeep Singh will most probably be the pace trio for Punjab Kings on the Mumbai Pitches while Rahul Chahar may find a place as their specialist spinner.<o:p></o:p>

Punjab Kings XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Sharma, Arshdeep Singh<o:p></o:p>

Punjab Kings will be looking to start their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on a high as they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their opening match in Mumbai on Sunday.

Punjab Kings will be looking to start their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on a high as they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their opening match in Mumbai on Sunday. The franchise went into the auction with a huge budget as they retained just two players – Mayank Agarwal, who will be leading the side this year, and young bowler Arshdeep Singh. Also read | Will Kohli open with Du Plessis? RCB's predicted playing XI vs PBKS However, their performance in the auction has quickly made them a favourite ahead of the season and although Punjab Kings will be missing two big money signings in England wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow and South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada, they currently boast of an impressive XI. Mayank Agarwal will be opening the batting for his side and he will be accompanied by the vastly experienced Shikhar Dhawan who will be looking to prove a point after being released by Delhi Capitals. The next two slots will go to two of the power hitters in the side – Liam Livingstone who is known for his destructive bowling and all-rounder Shahrukh Khan who costed them INR 9 crore. Also read | SA beat India in last-ball thriller to dump them out of Women's WC 2022 With Bairstow not in the team for the match, Prabhsimran Singh is expected to keep wickets and in the middle order, he will be joined by Harpreet Brar and West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith. Nathan Ellis, Sandeep Sharma and Arshdeep Singh will most probably be the pace trio for Punjab Kings on the Mumbai Pitches while Rahul Chahar may find a place as their specialist spinner. Punjab Kings XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Sharma, Arshdeep Singh

IPL 2022: No Rabada, Bairstow! Mayank Agarwal-led Punjab Kings predicted playing XI for RCB clash

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will embark on a new era under their new captain Faf du Plessis when they lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on Sunday (March 27). RCB will take on PBKS at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai and will be hoping to get off to a winning start.

RCB are one of the six teams who have been part of all 15 seasons since the inception of the IPL in 2008 but are yet to win the league. RCB were a force to reckon with under former captain Kohli but failed to lift their maiden IPL title. Kohli led RCB in a total of 140 matches before stepping down as captain following the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year.

Kohli was replaced by veteran batter and former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis as the captain of the side. RCB roped in Du Plessis for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month after his stellar season for his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) last year. Du Plessis was the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2021 and played an instrumental role in CSK's memorable title-winning campaign.

RCB will be hoping for a change in fortunes under the leadership of Du Plessis, who is an experienced campaigner in the IPL and has won the trophy twice with CSK. Kohli will be playing his first game under Faf as a player against Punjab Kings on Sunday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-matthew-hayden-slammed-on-twitter-after-trash-comment-on-kkr-pacer-umesh-yadav-465877">IPL 2022: Matthew Hayden slammed on Twitter after 'trash' comment on KKR pacer Umesh Yadav</a>

While many have urged Kohli to open the innings with new skipper Du Plessis, the former captain is unlikely to bat on top of the order in the absence of all-rounder Glenn Maxwell as it leaves RCB thin in the middle-order. Du Plessis might open the batting with youngster Anuj Rawat with Kohli coming out at his usual no.3 spot.

Maxwell is likely to miss the first few games of the season for RCB and in his absence, Kohli will have to shoulder the run-scoring responsibilities in the middle-order. Dinesh Karthik will also have to play a key role for the franchise as a finisher. RCB paid huge money for Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga in the auction and he is likely to feature in the playing XI.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dwayne-bravo-equals-lasith-malingas-all-time-record-becomes-joint-highest-wicket-taker-in-ipl-history-465852">Dwayne Bravo equals Lasith Malinga's all-time record, becomes joint highest wicket-taker in IPL history</a>

Along with Hasarnaga, RCB might also play two other overseas all-rounders in the form of Sherfane Rutherford and David Willey to further strengthen their bowling attack and bat deep. Harshal Patel will continue to lead the pace attack along with the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.

RCB's predicted XI against Punjab Kings:

Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Mahipal Lomror, Sherfane Rutherford, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj,&nbsp;Akash Deep

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will embark on a new era under their new captain Faf du Plessis when they lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on Sunday (March 27).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will embark on a new era under their new captain Faf du Plessis when they lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on Sunday (March 27). RCB will take on PBKS at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai and will be hoping to get off to a winning start. RCB are one of the six teams who have been part of all 15 seasons since the inception of the IPL in 2008 but are yet to win the league. RCB were a force to reckon with under former captain Kohli but failed to lift their maiden IPL title. Kohli led RCB in a total of 140 matches before stepping down as captain following the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year. Kohli was replaced by veteran batter and former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis as the captain of the side. RCB roped in Du Plessis for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month after his stellar season for his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) last year. Du Plessis was the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2021 and played an instrumental role in CSK's memorable title-winning campaign. RCB will be hoping for a change in fortunes under the leadership of Du Plessis, who is an experienced campaigner in the IPL and has won the trophy twice with CSK. Kohli will be playing his first game under Faf as a player against Punjab Kings on Sunday. Also Read: IPL 2022: Matthew Hayden slammed on Twitter after 'trash' comment on KKR pacer Umesh Yadav While many have urged Kohli to open the innings with new skipper Du Plessis, the former captain is unlikely to bat on top of the order in the absence of all-rounder Glenn Maxwell as it leaves RCB thin in the middle-order. Du Plessis might open the batting with youngster Anuj Rawat with Kohli coming out at his usual no.3 spot. Maxwell is likely to miss the first few games of the season for RCB and in his absence, Kohli will have to shoulder the run-scoring responsibilities in the middle-order. Dinesh Karthik will also have to play a key role for the franchise as a finisher. RCB paid huge money for Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga in the auction and he is likely to feature in the playing XI. Also Read: Dwayne Bravo equals Lasith Malinga's all-time record, becomes joint highest wicket-taker in IPL history Along with Hasarnaga, RCB might also play two other overseas all-rounders in the form of Sherfane Rutherford and David Willey to further strengthen their bowling attack and bat deep. Harshal Patel will continue to lead the pace attack along with the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep. RCB's predicted XI against Punjab Kings: Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Mahipal Lomror, Sherfane Rutherford, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep

IPL 2022: Will Virat Kohli open with Faf du Plessis? RCB's predicted playing XI for Punjab Kings clash

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli cannot wait to get on the field for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

IPL 2022 will begin with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) here at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

As RCB will lock horns with Punjab Kings in their first match of the tournament on Sunday. An 'excited'&nbsp;Kohli on Saturday shared pictures from his training session.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-crickets-crown-jewel-the-ipl-is-back-home-bigger-better-and-longer-465657">Indian cricket's crown jewel, the IPL, is back home: bigger, better and longer</a>

"Heading into matchday weekend. All the buzz and excitement of IPL are in the air. Love this anticipation and butterflies in the stomach before the tournament starts," Virat Kohli said on Koo.

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<div style="padding: 10px"><a href="https://www.kooapp.com/koo/virat.kohli/de32ea74-6cdb-4248-a880-17aa8d49ea54" style="text-decoration:none;color: inherit !important;" target="_blank">Heading into matchday weekend. All the buzz and excitement of IPL in the air. Love this anticipation and butterflies in the stomach before the tournament starts. 👌✅</a>

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Kohli, free from the responsibilities as the captain, is focused on helping RCB lift the IPL trophy this season.

Asked if relinquishing captaincy duties has given him refreshed energy, Kohli on the RCB website said, "(I have) renewed energy because I'm off a lot of responsibilities and duties. And life is in a very good place. We have a child now, we have a family. For me, it's all about going on with life with a lot of joy and happiness and just watching our child grow and then just doing what I love, which is playing cricket."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-csk-vs-kkr-head-to-head-record-trivia-stats-and-squads-465662">IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads​</a>​​​​​​

"So, my focus is so clear now, it's so precise what I want to do. I want to just have a lot of fun and enjoy myself on the field and give myself fully to this team, to this franchise like I have for so many years, without any load. So, I'm absolutely ready," he added.

Coming back to IPL, the games will be played across stadiums in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Pune with an audience occupancy rate of 25 per cent as per COVID-19 protocols.

In all, 20 matches each will be held at Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium, 15 matches each at Brabourne and MCA International Stadium, Pune.&nbsp;

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli cannot wait to get on the field for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. IPL 2022 will begin with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) here at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli cannot wait to get on the field for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. IPL 2022 will begin with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) here at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. As RCB will lock horns with Punjab Kings in their first match of the tournament on Sunday. An 'excited' Kohli on Saturday shared pictures from his training session. ALSO READ: Indian cricket's crown jewel, the IPL, is back home: bigger, better and longer "Heading into matchday weekend. All the buzz and excitement of IPL are in the air. Love this anticipation and butterflies in the stomach before the tournament starts," Virat Kohli said on Koo. Koo App Heading into matchday weekend. All the buzz and excitement of IPL in the air. Love this anticipation and butterflies in the stomach before the tournament starts. 👌✅ View attached media content - Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) 26 Mar 2022 × Kohli, free from the responsibilities as the captain, is focused on helping RCB lift the IPL trophy this season. Asked if relinquishing captaincy duties has given him refreshed energy, Kohli on the RCB website said, "(I have) renewed energy because I'm off a lot of responsibilities and duties. And life is in a very good place. We have a child now, we have a family. For me, it's all about going on with life with a lot of joy and happiness and just watching our child grow and then just doing what I love, which is playing cricket." ALSO READ: IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads "So, my focus is so clear now, it's so precise what I want to do. I want to just have a lot of fun and enjoy myself on the field and give myself fully to this team, to this franchise like I have for so many years, without any load. So, I'm absolutely ready," he added. Coming back to IPL, the games will be played across stadiums in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Pune with an audience occupancy rate of 25 per cent as per COVID-19 protocols. In all, 20 matches each will be held at Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium, 15 matches each at Brabourne and MCA International Stadium, Pune.

IPL 2022: Butterflies in stomach before tournament starts, says Virat Kohli ahead of RCB's clash against PBKS

Liam Livingstone is a name that is synonymous with T20 leagues around the world. The England all-rounder is well known for his aggressive batting for franchises in various countries and thanks to his brilliant performances, he was picked by Punjab Kings ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.<o:p></o:p>

Livingstone commanded an impressive price of INR 11.5 crore as multiple franchises went for him and ahead of the tournament, he ended the suspense regarding his position in the batting order.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-suryakumar-yadav-can-cement-his-spot-in-team-india-says-sunil-gavaskar-465507" hreflang="en">Suryakumar Yadav can cement his spot in Team India, says Sunil Gavaskar</a>

"I know where I am going to bat anyway. I am going to bat in the middle-order so it would be stupid of me to say otherwise. I'm probably going to bat at 4 or 5. The team is always bigger than the individual and you've got to fit into a role which the team needs you and I think Punjab Kings are going to need me in the middle order role so that's where I am focused. I haven't even thought about anywhere else. The team is really important and I'm excited; hope I can finish off games while batting second or post a big total batting first," Livingstone told Sports Tak.<o:p></o:p>

Livingstone was the fourth costliest player in this year’s auction after Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians), Deepak Chahar (Chennai Super Kings) and Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders). However, the England international made it clear that he will not be intimidated by the massive price tag.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-ipl-2022-rishabh-pant-needs-to-maintain-his-aggressive-edge-for-dc-says-ricky-ponting-465468" hreflang="en">Pant needs to maintain his aggressive edge for DC, says Ponting</a>

“We are picked as cricketers to come in and do our jobs, which is to score runs and take wickets and catches. So I think the monetary value is irrelevant. I've played in the last couple of years for not a lot. The IPL is the biggest tournament in the world and I’m just really excited to get going,” he said.<o:p></o:p>

Punjab Kings will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 27.<o:p></o:p>

Liam Livingstone is a name that is synonymous with T20 leagues around the world. The England all-rounder is well known for his aggressive batting for franchises in various countries and thanks to his brilliant performances, he was picked by Punjab Kings ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Liam Livingstone is a name that is synonymous with T20 leagues around the world. The England all-rounder is well known for his aggressive batting for franchises in various countries and thanks to his brilliant performances, he was picked by Punjab Kings ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Livingstone commanded an impressive price of INR 11.5 crore as multiple franchises went for him and ahead of the tournament, he ended the suspense regarding his position in the batting order. Also read | Suryakumar Yadav can cement his spot in Team India, says Sunil Gavaskar "I know where I am going to bat anyway. I am going to bat in the middle-order so it would be stupid of me to say otherwise. I'm probably going to bat at 4 or 5. The team is always bigger than the individual and you've got to fit into a role which the team needs you and I think Punjab Kings are going to need me in the middle order role so that's where I am focused. I haven't even thought about anywhere else. The team is really important and I'm excited; hope I can finish off games while batting second or post a big total batting first," Livingstone told Sports Tak. Livingstone was the fourth costliest player in this year’s auction after Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians), Deepak Chahar (Chennai Super Kings) and Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders). However, the England international made it clear that he will not be intimidated by the massive price tag. Also read | Pant needs to maintain his aggressive edge for DC, says Ponting “We are picked as cricketers to come in and do our jobs, which is to score runs and take wickets and catches. So I think the monetary value is irrelevant. I've played in the last couple of years for not a lot. The IPL is the biggest tournament in the world and I’m just really excited to get going,” he said. Punjab Kings will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 27.

IPL 2022: Liam Livingstone opens up about preferred position in Punjab Kings batting order

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season kicks off on Saturday with last year’s finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders facing each other. This year, the competition in the tournament has gone up a notch as two new teams joined the fray and a number of franchises have done quite well in the auctions.

However, former Indian cricket team skipper Sunil Gavaskar has identified one franchise who he thinks will find it difficult to win the tournament this year.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-reliving-the-magnanimous-highs-of-ms-dhoni-as-csk-captain-post-his-shocking-resignation-465242">Reliving MS Dhoni's tenure as CSK captain after his resignation</a>

"Punjab Kings is one of those teams that have not managed to win the IPL. This time, I don't think they have an impact player in their squad but this can benefit the team as well. When there are very low expectations, there is very less pressure and when the pressure is less, the players are freer in their approach," Gavaskar told Sports Tak.<o:p></o:p>

"In that aspect, I think Punjab Kings can surprise a few. Will they win the trophy? I doubt that. See, this is a T20 format and you have to be in that consistent cycle of winning," he added.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-chapter-fans-will-never-forget-virat-kohli-praises-ms-dhonis-legendary-captaincy-tenure-at-csk-465261" hreflang="en">Kohli lauds Dhoni's 'legendary' captaincy tenure at CSK</a>

Punjab Kings have never won the title but they came very close in 2014. Wriddhiman Saha scored a brilliant century in the final but they were ultimately defeated by the Kolkata Knight Riders.<o:p></o:p>

This season, they will be led by Mayank Agarwal and the auction provided some star additions for them in the form Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan and Shikhar Dhawan to name a few.<o:p></o:p>

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season kicks off on Saturday with last year’s finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders facing each other. This year, the competition in the tournament has gone up a notch as two new teams joined the fray and a number of franchises have done quite well in the auctions.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season kicks off on Saturday with last year’s finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders facing each other. This year, the competition in the tournament has gone up a notch as two new teams joined the fray and a number of franchises have done quite well in the auctions. However, former Indian cricket team skipper Sunil Gavaskar has identified one franchise who he thinks will find it difficult to win the tournament this year. Also read | Reliving MS Dhoni's tenure as CSK captain after his resignation "Punjab Kings is one of those teams that have not managed to win the IPL. This time, I don't think they have an impact player in their squad but this can benefit the team as well. When there are very low expectations, there is very less pressure and when the pressure is less, the players are freer in their approach," Gavaskar told Sports Tak. "In that aspect, I think Punjab Kings can surprise a few. Will they win the trophy? I doubt that. See, this is a T20 format and you have to be in that consistent cycle of winning," he added. Also read | Kohli lauds Dhoni's 'legendary' captaincy tenure at CSK Punjab Kings have never won the title but they came very close in 2014. Wriddhiman Saha scored a brilliant century in the final but they were ultimately defeated by the Kolkata Knight Riders. This season, they will be led by Mayank Agarwal and the auction provided some star additions for them in the form Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan and Shikhar Dhawan to name a few.

IPL 2022: Sunil Gavaskar identifies one team unlikely to win title this year

Team India star KL Rahul has opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahul left Punjab Kings in search of new opportunities ahead of IPL 2022 after failing to lead the side to playoffs in two consecutive seasons as captain.

While he didn't tase success as captain, Rahul was Punjab's best batter since joining the side in 2018. He notched up an impressive 2548 runs in 55 games in four seasons from 2018 to 2021 at an average of over 54 and was always among the runs for his former side.

Rahul was roped in by Lucknow Super Giants in the players'&nbsp;draft ahead of the mega auction for a whopping Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million), making him the joint highest-paid player alongside Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli. Rahul will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in their debut season in the IPL this year.

Rahul recently opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings and said it was a 'tough call' but he wanted to embark on a new journey and see what was in store for him. &nbsp;

“I have been with them for four years and I’ve had a great run with them. Just wanted to see what’s in store for me and if there’s a new journey for me. It was a tough call obviously. I have been attached to Punjab for a long time. I wanted to see if I can do something else," Rahul said speaking to Red Bull Cricket.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-a-fantastic-talent-irfan-pathan-picks-deepak-chahars-replacement-for-ms-dhonis-csk-in-ipl-2022-464295">'He is a fantastic talent': Irfan Pathan picks Deepak Chahar's replacement for Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2022</a>

Rahul was Punjab Kings' highest run-getter and the third-highest run-getter overall in IPL 2021 last year with 626 runs in 13 matches at a stunning average of over 62. In 2020, he had finished as the highest run-getter in the league with 670 runs from 14 games and won the Orange Cap.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-kohli-or-rohit-shreyas-iyer-picks-kl-rahul-as-his-favourite-captain-explains-why-464258">Not Kohli or Rohit! Shreyas Iyer picks KL Rahul as his 'favourite' captain, explains why</a>

After Rahul's departure from the side, Punjab Kings have named Mayank Agarwal as their new captain ahead of IPL 2022. Punjab have also roped in a number of big names in the form of Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow among others as they hunt for their maiden IPL title this year.

&nbsp;

Team India star KL Rahul has opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahul left Punjab Kings in search of new opportunities ahead of IPL 2022 after failing to lead the side to playoffs in two consecutive seasons as captain.

Team India star KL Rahul has opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahul left Punjab Kings in search of new opportunities ahead of IPL 2022 after failing to lead the side to playoffs in two consecutive seasons as captain. While he didn't tase success as captain, Rahul was Punjab's best batter since joining the side in 2018. He notched up an impressive 2548 runs in 55 games in four seasons from 2018 to 2021 at an average of over 54 and was always among the runs for his former side. Rahul was roped in by Lucknow Super Giants in the players' draft ahead of the mega auction for a whopping Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million), making him the joint highest-paid player alongside Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli. Rahul will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in their debut season in the IPL this year. Rahul recently opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings and said it was a 'tough call' but he wanted to embark on a new journey and see what was in store for him. “I have been with them for four years and I’ve had a great run with them. Just wanted to see what’s in store for me and if there’s a new journey for me. It was a tough call obviously. I have been attached to Punjab for a long time. I wanted to see if I can do something else," Rahul said speaking to Red Bull Cricket. Also Read: 'He is a fantastic talent': Irfan Pathan picks Deepak Chahar's replacement for Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2022 Rahul was Punjab Kings' highest run-getter and the third-highest run-getter overall in IPL 2021 last year with 626 runs in 13 matches at a stunning average of over 62. In 2020, he had finished as the highest run-getter in the league with 670 runs from 14 games and won the Orange Cap. Also Read: Not Kohli or Rohit! Shreyas Iyer picks KL Rahul as his 'favourite' captain, explains why After Rahul's departure from the side, Punjab Kings have named Mayank Agarwal as their new captain ahead of IPL 2022. Punjab have also roped in a number of big names in the form of Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow among others as they hunt for their maiden IPL title this year.

'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022

From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the complete schedule of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. IPL 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locking horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

This time around the Indian Premier League is all set to have ten instead of eight teams but each team will play 14 league games like before. The ten teams have been divided into two groups of five each with Mumbai Indians and CSK headlining Group A and B respectively.

Here is a look at the two groups for IPL 2022:

Group A&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Group B 
Mumbai Indians&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Chennai Super Kings 
Kolkata Knight Riders&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sunrisers Hyderabad&nbsp; 
Rajasthan Royals&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Royal Challengers Bangalore 
Delhi Capitals&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Punjab Kings 
Lucknow Super Giants&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Gujarat Titans

As per the new format of the IPL, each team will play twice against the other four teams in their respective groups and against the team who are placed in the same row in the other group. For an example, CSK will play twice against Mumbai Indians and the remaining four teams in Group B, while KKR will play twice against Sunrisers Hyderabad and the remaining four teams in Group A.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-new-format-explained-mumbai-indians-and-chennai-super-kings-headline-two-groups-456529">&nbsp;IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups</a>

Check out the complete schedule of IPL 2022:

<img alt="IPL schedule" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9d0f999d-36c7-478a-b1de-38e2f2cce7c5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/IPL%20schedule%201.png" />

<img alt="IPL schedule" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="becffb85-f81e-462b-bf1b-0f32c1a1f6c2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/IPL%20schedule%202.jpg" />

Debutants Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants will play their respective first game of the season when they lock horns against each other at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 28.

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians will take on Rishabh Pant's Delhi Capitals in the second game of the season on March 27, which will see the first double-header of the season with Punjab Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore on the same day.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/deepak-chahar-to-liam-livingstone-5-players-who-earned-biggest-pay-rise-at-ipl-mega-auction-453828">Deepak Chahar to Liam Livingstone: 5 players who earned biggest pay rise at IPL mega auction</a>

There will be a total of 12 double headers in IPL 2022 with six on Saturdays and six on Sundays. The BCCI is so far announced the schedule for only the league stage of the competition featuring 70 matches in total. The venue and dates for the playoffs are yet to be announced while the final is confirmed to be played on May 29.

The final league game of the season will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings on May 22. The playoffs are expected to get underway from May 24 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The entire legaue stage will be hosted by four venues in Maharashtra.

The Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai will host 20 matches each during the league stage while the Brabourne Stadium and the MCA Stadium in Pune will host 15 matches apiece.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the complete schedule of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. IPL 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locking horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the complete schedule of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. IPL 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locking horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This time around the Indian Premier League is all set to have ten instead of eight teams but each team will play 14 league games like before. The ten teams have been divided into two groups of five each with Mumbai Indians and CSK headlining Group A and B respectively. Here is a look at the two groups for IPL 2022: Group A Group B Mumbai Indians Chennai Super Kings Kolkata Knight Riders Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajasthan Royals Royal Challengers Bangalore Delhi Capitals Punjab Kings Lucknow Super Giants Gujarat Titans As per the new format of the IPL, each team will play twice against the other four teams in their respective groups and against the team who are placed in the same row in the other group. For an example, CSK will play twice against Mumbai Indians and the remaining four teams in Group B, while KKR will play twice against Sunrisers Hyderabad and the remaining four teams in Group A. Also Read: IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups Check out the complete schedule of IPL 2022: Debutants Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants will play their respective first game of the season when they lock horns against each other at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 28. Five-time champions Mumbai Indians will take on Rishabh Pant's Delhi Capitals in the second game of the season on March 27, which will see the first double-header of the season with Punjab Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore on the same day. Also Read: Deepak Chahar to Liam Livingstone: 5 players who earned biggest pay rise at IPL mega auction There will be a total of 12 double headers in IPL 2022 with six on Saturdays and six on Sundays. The BCCI is so far announced the schedule for only the league stage of the competition featuring 70 matches in total. The venue and dates for the playoffs are yet to be announced while the final is confirmed to be played on May 29. The final league game of the season will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings on May 22. The playoffs are expected to get underway from May 24 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The entire legaue stage will be hosted by four venues in Maharashtra. The Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai will host 20 matches each during the league stage while the Brabourne Stadium and the MCA Stadium in Pune will host 15 matches apiece.

IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday (February 28) appointed opener Mayank Agarwal as the franchise's captain ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India from March 26. After much speculation, Mayank won the captaincy race despite the presence of senior pro Shikhar Dhawan in the squad, who was bought by the 2014 runners-up in the mega auction held earlier this month.

Mayank, who will now succeed his good friend and ex-Punjab opener KL Rahul as the captain,&nbsp;has been in the PBKS setup since IPL 2018 and had a wonderful run in the last two editions, amassing 424 runs at a whopping strike-rate of 156.45 in IPL 2020 and&nbsp;441&nbsp;runs, with 4 half-centuries, at a strike-rate of 140.44 in last year's&nbsp;season. He was the only capped player retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction (for INR 140 million).

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🚨 Attention <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SherSquad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SherSquad</a> 🚨 
 
Our 🆕© ➜ Mayank Agarwal 
 
Send in your wishes for the new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaptainPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CaptainPunjab</a> 🎉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaPunjab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mayankcricket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mayankcricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/hkxwzRyOVA">pic.twitter.com/hkxwzRyOVA</a>
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PunjabKingsIPL/status/1498168752134930432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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"I have been at Punjab Kings since 2018 and I take a lot of pride in representing this fantastic unit. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the team. I take over this responsibility with utmost sincerity, but at the same time, I believe my job would be made easier with the talent we have at the Punjab Kings squad this season. We have some vastly experienced players in our ranks, along with many talented youngsters who are keen to grab the opportunity and run with it. We have always taken to the field hoping to win the title and as a team we will once again work towards this goal of lifting our maiden IPL trophy. I thank the team management for entrusting me with this new role of leading the side. I look forward to the new season and the new challenges it brings with it,” said Mayank in a statement.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-new-format-explained-mumbai-indians-and-chennai-super-kings-headline-two-groups-456529">IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups</a>

Anil Kumble, Head Coach, Punjab Kings said, “Mayank has been an integral part of the side since 2018 and of the leadership group for the last two years. The new squad we selected at the recently concluded auction has exciting young talent and outstanding experienced players. We want to create a strong foundation for the future with Mayank at the helm. He is hardworking, enthusiastic, a team player with all the attributes required of a leader. I look forward to working with him as captain and believe that he will lead this team to a successful campaign."

PBKS squad for IPL 2022

Mayank Agarwal (captain), Arshdeep Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Benny Howell

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday (February 28) appointed opener Mayank Agarwal as the franchise's captain ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India from March 26.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday (February 28) appointed opener Mayank Agarwal as the franchise's captain ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India from March 26. After much speculation, Mayank won the captaincy race despite the presence of senior pro Shikhar Dhawan in the squad, who was bought by the 2014 runners-up in the mega auction held earlier this month. Mayank, who will now succeed his good friend and ex-Punjab opener KL Rahul as the captain, has been in the PBKS setup since IPL 2018 and had a wonderful run in the last two editions, amassing 424 runs at a whopping strike-rate of 156.45 in IPL 2020 and 441 runs, with 4 half-centuries, at a strike-rate of 140.44 in last year's season. He was the only capped player retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction (for INR 140 million). 🚨 Attention #SherSquad 🚨 Our 🆕© ➜ Mayank Agarwal Send in your wishes for the new #CaptainPunjab 🎉#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #TATAIPL2022 @mayankcricket pic.twitter.com/hkxwzRyOVA — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 28, 2022 × "I have been at Punjab Kings since 2018 and I take a lot of pride in representing this fantastic unit. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the team. I take over this responsibility with utmost sincerity, but at the same time, I believe my job would be made easier with the talent we have at the Punjab Kings squad this season. We have some vastly experienced players in our ranks, along with many talented youngsters who are keen to grab the opportunity and run with it. We have always taken to the field hoping to win the title and as a team we will once again work towards this goal of lifting our maiden IPL trophy. I thank the team management for entrusting me with this new role of leading the side. I look forward to the new season and the new challenges it brings with it,” said Mayank in a statement. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups Anil Kumble, Head Coach, Punjab Kings said, “Mayank has been an integral part of the side since 2018 and of the leadership group for the last two years. The new squad we selected at the recently concluded auction has exciting young talent and outstanding experienced players. We want to create a strong foundation for the future with Mayank at the helm. He is hardworking, enthusiastic, a team player with all the attributes required of a leader. I look forward to working with him as captain and believe that he will lead this team to a successful campaign." PBKS squad for IPL 2022 Mayank Agarwal (captain), Arshdeep Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Benny Howell

Mayank Agarwal wins captaincy race to be named Punjab Kings' skipper ahead of IPL 2022

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the teams which headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking for potential captaincy candidates. Punjab Kings were left without a captain ahead of the new season after KL Rahul decided to part ways with the franchise and join the Lucknow Super Giants. PBKS wanted to retain Rahul but the Indian batter wanted to leave the franchise after failing to guide the team to play-offs for two successive seasons as captain.

Punjab Kings bought some experienced players in the IPL 2022 mega auction as they roped in the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada and Jonny Bairstow among others, They also made England batter Liam Livingstone the costliest overseas buy at the auction this year.

Punjab Kings now have several options to choose from when it comes to deciding their next captain. However, Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal, who was retained by the team, are among favourites to take over as the new captain of the side in IPL 2022. While Dhawan has IPL captaincy experience having led Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past, Agarwal has never been a full-time skipper in the league.

However, Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman recently dropped a major hint regarding the next captain of the franchise. Burman hinted at Agarwal being handed over captaincy as he said it is good to have someone who has been with the team to lead the side in the future as the senior player has a better understanding with&nbsp;the coaches.

"I think it's a big advantage to have a senior player who has played with you before to lead the team. He understands the thinking of the coach. He has a good rapport with the coaches and the idea is to give him a strong bunch of players who fill up all the positions," Burman told News9 Sports.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/deepak-chahar-to-liam-livingstone-5-players-who-earned-biggest-pay-rise-at-ipl-mega-auction-453828">Deepak Chahar to Liam Livingstone: 5 players who earned biggest pay rise at IPL mega auction</a>

Agarwal had joined Punjab Kings in 2018 and has since been an integral part of the setup. He was the only capped player retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction and looks set to become the new captain of the team. Agarwal has so far played 100 matches in his IPL career and has 2131 runs to his name at an average of over 23.

&nbsp;

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the teams which headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking for potential captaincy candidates. Punjab Kings were left without a captain ahead of the new season after KL Rahul decided to part ways with the franchise and join the Lucknow Super Giants.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the teams which headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking for potential captaincy candidates. Punjab Kings were left without a captain ahead of the new season after KL Rahul decided to part ways with the franchise and join the Lucknow Super Giants. PBKS wanted to retain Rahul but the Indian batter wanted to leave the franchise after failing to guide the team to play-offs for two successive seasons as captain. Punjab Kings bought some experienced players in the IPL 2022 mega auction as they roped in the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada and Jonny Bairstow among others, They also made England batter Liam Livingstone the costliest overseas buy at the auction this year. Punjab Kings now have several options to choose from when it comes to deciding their next captain. However, Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal, who was retained by the team, are among favourites to take over as the new captain of the side in IPL 2022. While Dhawan has IPL captaincy experience having led Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past, Agarwal has never been a full-time skipper in the league. However, Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman recently dropped a major hint regarding the next captain of the franchise. Burman hinted at Agarwal being handed over captaincy as he said it is good to have someone who has been with the team to lead the side in the future as the senior player has a better understanding with the coaches. "I think it's a big advantage to have a senior player who has played with you before to lead the team. He understands the thinking of the coach. He has a good rapport with the coaches and the idea is to give him a strong bunch of players who fill up all the positions," Burman told News9 Sports. Also Read: Deepak Chahar to Liam Livingstone: 5 players who earned biggest pay rise at IPL mega auction Agarwal had joined Punjab Kings in 2018 and has since been an integral part of the setup. He was the only capped player retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction and looks set to become the new captain of the team. Agarwal has so far played 100 matches in his IPL career and has 2131 runs to his name at an average of over 23.

Mayank Agarwal or Shikhar Dhawan? Punjab Kings co-owner hints at team's next captain ahead of IPL 2022

IPL 2022: All teams and their squad list

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the franchises who headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking to rope in a potential captaincy candidate ahead of the new season. KL Rahul parted ways with Punjab Kings last year to join Lucknow Super Giants as their new captain, leaving his former franchise with the tough task of finding a new captain for the team.

Punjab had the largest purse heading into the auction and the franchise was able to rope in some quality Indian and overseas players to form a strong squad at the end. Punjab Kings picked up a total of 23 players at the IPL 2022 mega auction, including the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada and Liam Livingstone among others.

While many believe Dhawan is an ideal captaincy candidate for the Punjab Kings, former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has urged the franchise to look at the future while appointing their next captain. Giving his take on the captaincy debate, Gavaskar said Mayank Agarwal should be handed over the reins as he is 31 and has many years of cricket left in him at the top level, unlike Dhawan, who is 36 and might not be a long-term option for captaincy.

Lauding Mayank, Gavaskar said the right-hand batter is a hard-working athlete and has always been a team man. The batting legend also believes Mayank can be a potential candidate to lead India in the future if he can deliver consistent performances with the bat.

Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/punjab-kings-break-the-bank-for-livingstone-pbks-squad-list-for-ipl-2022-with-signings-of-dhawan-bairstow-453039">Punjab Kings complete&nbsp;squad list for IPL 2022 with signings of Dhawan, Bairstow</a>

"I will look at the future, and I look at Mayank Agarwal. Because I do believe that Mayank has got leadership qualities. He speaks well, he is a hardworking individual. He wants to get better than yesterday. He is very very very enthusiastic. He is a real team man. We can see that when he is playing for India. He is always ready to hop on to the field, even when he isn't in the XI," Gavaskar told Sports Today.

"So every aspect I think, Mayank Agarwal is somebody Punjab Kings should look as captain. And who knows, he could be considered in the future for national captaincy if he is consistent with his performances," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suresh-raina-lost-ms-dhonis-loyalty-simon-doull-explains-why-csk-didnt-pick-mr-ipl-at-mega-auction-453672">Suresh Raina lost MS Dhoni's loyalty: Simon Doull explains why CSK didn't pick 'Mr IPL' at mega auction</a>

While Dhawan has been a full-time captain in the IPL in the past,&nbsp;Mayank had led Punjab Kings in one game last season after an injury to Rahul. Dhawan has also led the Indian team in a few matches but with age not being on his side, Punjab Kings will have a difficult decision to make in terms of captaincy.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the franchises who headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking to rope in a potential captaincy candidate ahead of the new season.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the franchises who headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking to rope in a potential captaincy candidate ahead of the new season. KL Rahul parted ways with Punjab Kings last year to join Lucknow Super Giants as their new captain, leaving his former franchise with the tough task of finding a new captain for the team. Punjab had the largest purse heading into the auction and the franchise was able to rope in some quality Indian and overseas players to form a strong squad at the end. Punjab Kings picked up a total of 23 players at the IPL 2022 mega auction, including the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada and Liam Livingstone among others. While many believe Dhawan is an ideal captaincy candidate for the Punjab Kings, former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has urged the franchise to look at the future while appointing their next captain. Giving his take on the captaincy debate, Gavaskar said Mayank Agarwal should be handed over the reins as he is 31 and has many years of cricket left in him at the top level, unlike Dhawan, who is 36 and might not be a long-term option for captaincy. Lauding Mayank, Gavaskar said the right-hand batter is a hard-working athlete and has always been a team man. The batting legend also believes Mayank can be a potential candidate to lead India in the future if he can deliver consistent performances with the bat. Also Read: Punjab Kings complete squad list for IPL 2022 with signings of Dhawan, Bairstow "I will look at the future, and I look at Mayank Agarwal. Because I do believe that Mayank has got leadership qualities. He speaks well, he is a hardworking individual. He wants to get better than yesterday. He is very very very enthusiastic. He is a real team man. We can see that when he is playing for India. He is always ready to hop on to the field, even when he isn't in the XI," Gavaskar told Sports Today. "So every aspect I think, Mayank Agarwal is somebody Punjab Kings should look as captain. And who knows, he could be considered in the future for national captaincy if he is consistent with his performances," he added. Also Read: Suresh Raina lost MS Dhoni's loyalty: Simon Doull explains why CSK didn't pick 'Mr IPL' at mega auction While Dhawan has been a full-time captain in the IPL in the past, Mayank had led Punjab Kings in one game last season after an injury to Rahul. Dhawan has also led the Indian team in a few matches but with age not being on his side, Punjab Kings will have a difficult decision to make in terms of captaincy.

Not Shikhar Dhawan! Sunil Gavaskar names Indian star who should captain Punjab Kings in IPL 2022

The IPL 2022 mega auction was a star-studded two-day affair, which took place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. The ten IPL franchises took part in the auction proceedings with an aim to build their respective squads. The two new IPL teams -- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) -- had a tougher task in&nbsp;developing a formidable unit from scratch.

Talking about the KL Rahul-led LSG franchise, they impressed one and all with their smart buying skills. Heading into the mega auction with INR 590 million -- after acquiring the services of Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi -- the Sanjiv Goenka-owned team roped in some big names as well as plenty of youngsters in the mega auction.

Lucknow roped in the likes of Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Mark Wood, Evin Lewis, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Manish Pandey, etc. to form a strong line-up before the upcoming season, set to be held in March-May. Thus, the new franchise impressed many, including former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra.

Lucknow's shopping at the mega auction was rated highly by many, with some terming it better than veteran franchises Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI), etc., as they were left with not a single penny in their purse. Thus, Chopra has lauded the new IPL team.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lucknow-super-giants-complete-squad-for-ipl-2022-de-kock-holder-and-avesh-among-best-buys-for-debutants-453060">Lucknow Super Giants complete squad for IPL 2022: De Kock, Holder and Avesh among best buys for debutants</a>

Chopra said on his Youtube channel, "I have given the Lucknow Super Giants the second-most numbers. I have given them 9/10. First, they spent all the money they had; even one rupee was not left. They are phenomenal; how can someone do it with so much precision. They bought 21 players, and there are some outstanding buys.

“They had Rahul, Stoinis and Bishnoi. If you have Stoinis, you think if you can get Jason Holder. Generally, teams think if they can get Stoinis or Mitchell Marsh or Jason Holder. You don't get all three together, they have got two already,” he explained further.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-who-is-pbkss-benny-howell-first-french-born-cricketer-to-feature-in-indias-cash-rich-league-453247">IPL 2022: Who is PBKS's Benny Howell? First French-born cricketer to feature in India's cash-rich league</a>

"In Quinton de Kock, you have got a player who is 29 years old, and plays just white-ball cricket. You got him for 6.75 crores; he will open and hit, and he is left-handed. Phenomenal buy. You see Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda, and then you think Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi - they were all expensive; Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda seem to be a steal. After that, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya and Jason Holder. They also have Krishnappa Gowtham. No team has so many all-rounders. I mean go to this team if you want to make a list of multi-faceted cricketers," Chopra added.

Complete squad of Lucknow SG:

KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi, Quinton de Kock, Manish Pandey, Manan Vohra,&nbsp;Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, K Gowtham, Ayush Badoni, Kyle Mayers, Karan Sharma, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Ankit Rajpoot, Dushmantha Chameera, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav

The IPL 2022 mega auction was a star-studded two-day affair, which took place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. The ten IPL franchises took part in the auction proceedings with an aim to build their respective squads.

The IPL 2022 mega auction was a star-studded two-day affair, which took place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. The ten IPL franchises took part in the auction proceedings with an aim to build their respective squads. The two new IPL teams -- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) -- had a tougher task in developing a formidable unit from scratch. Talking about the KL Rahul-led LSG franchise, they impressed one and all with their smart buying skills. Heading into the mega auction with INR 590 million -- after acquiring the services of Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi -- the Sanjiv Goenka-owned team roped in some big names as well as plenty of youngsters in the mega auction. Lucknow roped in the likes of Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Mark Wood, Evin Lewis, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Manish Pandey, etc. to form a strong line-up before the upcoming season, set to be held in March-May. Thus, the new franchise impressed many, including former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra. Lucknow's shopping at the mega auction was rated highly by many, with some terming it better than veteran franchises Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI), etc., as they were left with not a single penny in their purse. Thus, Chopra has lauded the new IPL team. ALSO READ | Lucknow Super Giants complete squad for IPL 2022: De Kock, Holder and Avesh among best buys for debutants Chopra said on his Youtube channel, "I have given the Lucknow Super Giants the second-most numbers. I have given them 9/10. First, they spent all the money they had; even one rupee was not left. They are phenomenal; how can someone do it with so much precision. They bought 21 players, and there are some outstanding buys. “They had Rahul, Stoinis and Bishnoi. If you have Stoinis, you think if you can get Jason Holder. Generally, teams think if they can get Stoinis or Mitchell Marsh or Jason Holder. You don't get all three together, they have got two already,” he explained further. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Who is PBKS's Benny Howell? First French-born cricketer to feature in India's cash-rich league "In Quinton de Kock, you have got a player who is 29 years old, and plays just white-ball cricket. You got him for 6.75 crores; he will open and hit, and he is left-handed. Phenomenal buy. You see Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda, and then you think Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi - they were all expensive; Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda seem to be a steal. After that, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya and Jason Holder. They also have Krishnappa Gowtham. No team has so many all-rounders. I mean go to this team if you want to make a list of multi-faceted cricketers," Chopra added. Complete squad of Lucknow SG: KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi, Quinton de Kock, Manish Pandey, Manan Vohra, Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, K Gowtham, Ayush Badoni, Kyle Mayers, Karan Sharma, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Ankit Rajpoot, Dushmantha Chameera, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav

Not CSK or MI! Aakash Chopra impressed with new franchise for superb show at IPL 2022 mega auction

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