The Punjab Kings were defeated by the Mumbai Indians on Thursday in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, in yet another thrilling match in the Indian Premier League.
In Mullanpur, Chandigarh, the five-time champion Mumbai Indians were hosted by the Punjab Kings. After winning the toss, the hosts decided to bowl first in an attempt to take advantage of the dew factor during the match’s second innings. Thanks to important innings from Tilak Varma and Rohit Sharma, as well as a strong 78 from Suryakumar Yadav, the Mumbai Indians managed to put up a formidable 192/7 in their 20 overs.
Punjab Kings immediately found themselves at a disadvantage as they lost four wickets in three overs of their reply. In the powerplay, Gerald Coetzee and Jasprit Bumrah were extremely dangerous, taking two wickets each in their opening two overs. Following the powerplay, Harpreet Bhatia was dismissed by Shreyas Gopal, who produced a spectacular return catch. The bout heated up following impressive fights from Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, and Shashank Singh. However, Mumbai Indians managed to win by a nine-run margin in the end, earning their third victory on the IPL 2024 Points Table.
Prior to their upcoming match, Punjab Kings ought to implement the following three adjustments:
- Instead of playing Liam Livingstone, play Sikandar Raza.
In the impending tie against GT, PBKS is anticipated to intervene with a few adjustments. Additionally, Sikandar Raza, an all-around player, might take Liam Livingstone’s place as one of the modifications. The star all-rounder has not been able to create anything particularly noteworthy in his five games for the team this Indian Premier League season, despite having solid performances overall.
Raza, however, is an excellent balance to the side and can be drafted into the side. The Zimbabwean international is renowned for taking games deep and for his ability to bat in pivotal moments. In the middle overs, his bowling can be used to take wickets since it also causes a lot of trouble for the hitters. This may be a very beneficial development for the franchise.
- Try Prabhsimran Singh’s Atharva Taide.
Punjab Kings still haven’t figured out their batting order in seven games played in the competition. Atharva Taide assumed he would be given a long run in the team when he entered the game last time out, but against MI, the Akola native was left out of the starting lineup.
Prabhsimran Singh’s form is currently seriously under question because he hasn’t been able to lead the team in any noteworthy performances. With a best score of just 35, he has only scored 119 runs in his seven innings. The Kings should consider giving the southpaw another chance and backing him for a significant number of games this time around.
- Introduce Rahul Chahar.
When Rahul Chahar first appeared on the scene in the Indian Premier League, he was one of the league’s greatest discoveries. In 2019 and 2020, he was able to win two consecutive titles with the Mumbai Indians. Nevertheless, he hasn’t been able to duplicate the same form since joining the Punjab Kings. Although he had an excellent first year, the last two years have not been good for him.
It might be time to bring in the leg-spinner, as Punjab Kings are finding it difficult to take wickets in the middle overs. The bowler can end up being his team’s match-winner even if he gives up a few extra runs since he can break important partnerships. With a desperate attempt to get back to winning ways, Punjab is hoping that this move could turn things around.
