The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India, featuring ten teams representing different cities. One of these teams is the Punjab Kings (PBKS), formerly known as the Kings XI Punjab. In this article, we will discuss the high and low moments of PBKS, as well as some key players who were released by the team.
High Moments:
PBKS had a great start in the IPL, reaching the semi-finals in their debut season in 2008. In 2014 they finished as runners-up and lost in the final against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
In 2017, Punjab had one of the best batting performances in IPL history, scoring a massive total of 230 runs in 20 overs against Mumbai Indians.
Another memorable performance of Punjab was the win against Mumbai Indians in 2020. In the 2020 IPL season, Punjab Kings pulled off a thrilling victory against Mumbai Indians in a double super over, with both teams scoring 176 runs in the allotted 20 overs. It was the first time in IPL history that a match had gone to two super overs.
Low Moments:
Despite their successes, PBKS has also had some low moments in the IPL.In the 2014 IPL final, the Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab) suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders. After posting a competitive total of 199, their bowlers failed to defend it as KKR chased down the target with three balls to spare. It was a crushing moment for PBKS and their fans. They also had a poor season in 2020, finishing sixth on the points table, winning only six out of their 14 matches.
Key Players Released:
PBKS released some key players ahead of the 2022 IPL auction. One of these players was Glenn Maxwell, who was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping INR 14.25 crore. Maxwell was a regular member of the PBKS squad and was known for his explosive batting and handy off-spin bowling.
Another player released by PBKS was KL Rahul, the captain of Punjab Kings, he had been released prior to the IPL 2022 mega auction despite being performing for the franchise consistently.
Conclusion:
PBKS has had its ups and downs in the IPL, but they remain a competitive team with a loyal fan base. The team will be looking to bounce back in the upcoming season and make a mark in the tournament. With some key players released, PBKS will be looking to build a strong squad in the upcoming IPL auction to challenge for the title.
