In IPL 2024, Punjab Kings team is back on track after two consecutive defeats. The team started the season with a win. But then faced defeat in two consecutive matches against RCB and Lucknow Super Giants. Now he has returned chasing the target of 200 runs against Gujarat Titans. But despite this victory, questions are being raised on the team. One of the biggest players of the team, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow could not do anything special, the most expensive player of the team, Sam Curran is also proving to be a flop.
Punjab's most expensive player flopped
Before the IPL 2023 auction, Sam Curran was signed by Punjab Kings for Rs 18.5 crore. He was then retained at the same amount till IPL 2024. In both the seasons the player did not perform as per his money. This England all-rounder scored only 276 runs in 14 matches in 2023 and took only 10 wickets while bowling. Apart from this, he played an inning of 63 runs in his first match and Punjab won the match. But after this he could not do anything special. From that inning of 63 runs, he could score only 91 runs in 4 matches and take only four wickets.
20 lakh players shine
Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma led Punjab Kings to victory in a lost match against Gujarat Titans. Both of them made the seemingly impossible victory possible for Punjab. Shashank played an unbeaten inning of 61 runs on 29 balls. While Ashutosh Sharma scored 31 runs in 17 balls. This was Ashutosh's first IPL match. In this way, both these players, bought for just Rs 20 lakh each, proved to be match winners for Punjab. That is, where crores of rupees were spent, there was no profit but the cheap players proved to be match winners.
Bought Shashank Singh by mistake
There was a lot of uproar over Shashank Singh's bid in the auction held in Dubai for IPL 2024. Actually this player joined Punjab Kings for Rs 20 lakh. But later Preity Zinta responded from the franchise table and said that she does not want this Shashank. But today the same Shashank has proved useful for the team. This player proved with his batting that I am the same Shashank whom you had rejected but today I came in handy for you. Punjab team is now at fifth position in the points table with 4 points from four matches with two wins and two losses.