There is a good news for Punjab Kings. The team’s spin bowling coach has claimed that captain Shikhar Dhawan will return to the team this week. Shikhar Dhawan is undergoing treatment for shoulder injury. He may return in the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Thursday. According to the coach, it is expected that the return of the captain will clear the way for the team to enter the playoffs. It is noteworthy that Punjab Kings have registered a spectacular win in the last two matches. However, before this they had to face defeat in three consecutive matches. The team will be strengthened by the return of the captain.
Can be seen in the last three matches
Sunil Joshi claims that Shikhar Dhawan’s recovery is progressing rapidly. However, Dhawan will not be present in the upcoming match of Punjab Kings. This match will be against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. However, he can be seen captaining the team in the remaining three matches. The last three matches of Punjab Kings will be against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. To make it to the playoffs, the team will have to win all these matches.
Shikhar Dhawan is looking better in this season of IPL. He has played a total of five matches so far. In which he has scored 152 runs. In the first match, Shikhar scored 22 runs on 16 balls against Delhi Capitals, in the second match he scored 45 runs on 37 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore and 70 runs on 50 balls against Lucknow Super Giants. In his fourth match, Shikhar was out after scoring just 1 run against Gujarat and 14 runs off 16 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He got injured in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 9 April, after which he is out of the team and England all-rounder Sam Curran is taking charge of the team.
Sam Curran returns
After the injury of team captain Shikhar Dhawan, the captaincy of the team has come into the hands of Sam Curran. Under the captaincy of Sam, the team has made a comeback with a spectacular win in the last two matches after losing the first three matches. Under the captaincy of Shikhar, the team was able to win only two matches in the first five matches.
Big expectations from Dharamshala ground
Punjab Kings XI have high expectations from their home ground Dharamshala. Bowler Sunil said that if the team plays against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the Dharamshala Stadium on Sunday, it will get the home ground advantage. In the match played on 26th April on this ground, the team has created a world record by achieving the biggest target in T-20. Chasing Kolkata Knight Riders’ mammoth target of 262 runs, Punjab Kings XI made this record by winning the match with 13 balls to spare. This will also boost the morale of Punjab Kings XI on the field.
Punjab is in a do or die situation
Punjab Kings XI has played a total of 10 matches so far, out of which it has won four matches and lost six matches. The team is at seventh position in the points table with 8 points. To reach the playoffs, any team will have to win the last four matches. The team is in full form after winning the last two matches.
The team will have to maintain this momentum and enter the field with the challenge of winning all the remaining matches. Sunil Joshi said that at present the team is not eyeing the point table. We are trying to win and perform well. When we perform at our best, options will automatically open up for us. Even our teammates in the dressing room are looking at the same goal, what we could have done better and what we could not have done. The return of Shikhar Dhawan will boost the morale of the team.
