Shreyas Iyer Aims to Revitalize Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 Season Opener
Punjab Kings Set for IPL 2024 Kickoff Against Gujarat Titans
Captain Shreyas Iyer is determined to leverage his leadership experience as he seeks to uplift the struggling Punjab Kings in the upcoming IPL season, starting with a match against the Gujarat Titans on Tuesday.
Iyer previously led the Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL championship last year and guided the Delhi Capitals to the finals in 2020. Now, he faces the daunting task of breaking Punjab's 18-year drought for an IPL title.
Despite reaching the semifinals in 2018 and the finals in 2014, the Punjab Kings have struggled to secure a top-five finish in the last four seasons, even after rebranding from Kings XI Punjab.
With Iyer at the helm, the team gains a captain with a strong track record. He will also reunite with coach Ricky Ponting, creating an excellent opportunity for a fresh beginning.
Conversely, Shubman Gill, who serves as India's ODI vice-captain, had a challenging season as the captain of GT, finishing 8th in 2024 after previously winning the title and achieving runner-up positions in 2022 and 2023 under Hardik Pandya.
Both players are in excellent form, having played pivotal roles in India's recent Champions Trophy victory in Dubai.
Iyer emerged as India's leading run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 243 runs across five matches, while Gill contributed significantly, including a century in the opening game against Bangladesh.
For GT, the batting lineup will depend on a strong start from Gill and England's Jos Buttler, who aims to recover from a recent slump.
The middle order will feature West Indies' Sherfane Rutherford, Sai Sudharsan, and Masood Shahrukh Khan, with all-rounders like Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, and Mahipal Lomror expected to play key roles.
On the bowling side, Mohammed Siraj is eager to make a mark and return to national selection after missing the Champions Trophy, supported by Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, South Africa's Gerald Coetzee, and veteran Ishant Sharma.
Rashid Khan will lead the spin department, with left-arm spinner Sai Kishore providing additional support.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings will rely on Iyer, Josh Inglis, Prabhsimran Singh, Marcus Stoinis, and Glenn Maxwell for their batting strength. The team also features a robust lineup of all-rounders, including Azmatullah Omarzai, Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Shahank Singh, and Musheer Khan.
Arshdeep Singh will spearhead the pace attack, eager to return to action after not participating in the Champions Trophy. He will be joined by Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Sen, and Yash Thakur, while leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar aim for a successful season.