Irfan Pathan recently discussed the changes that Punjab Kings have undergone in the Indian Premier League, noting that it has been almost a complete overhaul for the franchise every year. Speaking to Star Sports ahead of the 2023 season, the former Indian all-rounder stated that PBKS had revamped their entire roster from one season to the next.
“Their engine has always been the problem. For many years their engine has kept changing. They’ve changed their engine almost as many times as the number of years the Indian Premier League has been played.”
The Kings are set for a fresh start for IPL 2023 as they have made significant changes. Shikhar Dhawan has been appointed as the team’s captain, replacing Mayank Agarwal. Several experienced players, including Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma and Agarwal, were let go of, while big names like Sam Curran and Sikandar Raza were added to the squad during the mini-auction.
The bowling unit of PBKS is very formidable – Irfan Pathan
Pathan believes that the bowling attack of the Punjab Kings this season will be a truly formidable one and that Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran and Kagiso Rabada will be successful. He also mentioned that fast bowlers must focus on accurately pinpointing the right spots on the field to have the best chance of victory in Mohali.
“I’ve played cricket there for three years. I’ve seen that if you hit the seam or impart proper backspin, you do get help. The sides of the ground are big. If you’ve got an idea of what length to bowl, it can make a huge difference for the bowlers. Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, and Arshdeep Singh are quality bowlers.”
“They have two left-armers and also a right-armer in Rabada, who hits that full length hard. That makes a big difference, and I believe that this bowling unit, among all IPL teams, if you check based on availability, their name will be right up there.”
PBKS, led by Shikhar Dhawan, will kick off their IPL 2023 season with a clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on April 1.