Shikhar Dhawan Captain for Punjab Kings in IPL 2022

IPL 2022 mega auction done, Punjab Kings (PBKS) purchased 23 players at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction in Bengaluru. They had retained only two players Mayank Agarwal Rs 14 crore and Arshdeep Singh Rs 4 crore ahead of the auction. Shikhar Dhawan Captain for Punjab Kings in IPL 2022.

Shikhar Dhawan was the first player who went sold in the IPL Mega Auction. The former Delhi Capitals player set his base price at Rs 2 crore. Punjab Kings eventually secured the services of the marquee player for Rs 8.25 crore. South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada Rs 9.25 crore were PBKS’ main purchases at the auction.

They also picked England’s wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow Rs 6.75 crore and West Indies all-rounder Odeon Smith Rs 6 crore. However, their most expensive purchase was England’s big-hitting all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who was bought for Rs 11.5 crore.

Delhi Capitals released Shikhar Dhawan and Kagiso Rabada ahead of the auction. Now, both these players will be playing for Punjab Kings in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. PBKS bought the Proteas fast bowler for Rs 9.25 crore. Earlier, Punjab Kings retained the likes of Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep Singh ahead of the auction.

KL Rahul parted ways with the Punjab-based franchise ahead of the auction. Lucknow Super Giants roped him for Rs 17 crore and Rahul will lead LSG from the front. Following Rahul’s departure, the captaincy spot is left vacant. Shikhar Dhawan is likely to take charge as Punjab Kings captain for the upcoming season of the lucrative IPL. Earlier, the reports were rife that Mayank Agarwal would succeed Rahul as captain at PBKS.

“Team is very elated to have Shikhar Dhawan in squad. Dhawan has a mature head on his shoulders and will be entrusted to lead Punjab in IPL. Coach, promoters all are in favor of Dhawan as captain of Punjab Kings. Official announcement will be made in next few days”, said a source close to PBKS team management was quoted as saying InsideSport website.

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PBKS’ squad for IPL 2022

Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odeon Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell.