velki live The Punjab Kings (PBKS) have the challenging task of establishing a winning core for the 2025 IPL season. With the 2024 season showcasing both promising talent and key areas for improvement, PBKS must carefully decide who to retain to maximize their performance next season. Here, we examine three possible approaches for PBKS, focusing on different combinations of players to ensure both skill diversity and auction flexibility.
Option #1
Retaining Sam Curran (18 crore), Arshdeep Singh (14 crore), and Prabhsimran Singh (4 crore) balances skill retention with a strong auction position. Here’s why these players make the ideal core:
Sam Curran: As a fast-bowling all-rounder, Curran’s profile is highly valuable, especially given that other premier all-rounders, like Cameron Green and possibly Ben Stokes, may miss IPL 2025. Retaining Curran addresses two critical areas for PBKS: all-round capabilities and depth in bowling phases.
Arshdeep Singh: With an all-phase Indian pacer in Arshdeep, PBKS can secure a trusted death-over option. Retaining him would ensure PBKS has a reliable Indian pace spearhead, which is essential for any successful T20 team.
Prabhsimran Singh: Retaining Prabhsimran at an uncapped rate is a strategic decision. His impact as a powerplay specialist who can anchor or attack is ideal for PBKS, and his wicketkeeping skills add depth to the squad.
Option #2
A bolder approach could be to retain just two uncapped players, Prabhsimran Singh (4 crore) and Ashutosh Sharma (4 crore), focusing solely on younger talent while saving funds and Right to Match (RTM) cards for the auction. Here’s why this approach has potential:
Prabhsimran Singh: His role as a powerplay specialist and wicketkeeper-batsman aligns perfectly with PBKS’s need for a strong opener who can capitalize on the initial overs.
Ashutosh Sharma: Known for his power-hitting and youthful potential, Ashutosh brings an aggressive approach to batting, ideal for middle-order roles in T20 cricket. His inclusion over Shashank adds an element of unpredictability, and his growth potential aligns with PBKS’s rebuilding strategy.
Option #3
Retaining five key players from their existing lineup would provide PBKS with a solid foundation, setting them up with a balanced roster pre-auction. Here’s a breakdown of the players who could make up this core:
Sam Curran (18 crore): Curran is a versatile pace-bowling all-rounder, skilled across all bowling phases. Despite not living up to his high price tag in 2024, his unique all-rounder profile makes him a sought-after asset. PBKS would benefit from his flexibility in both batting and bowling, which could be difficult to replace in the auction.
Arshdeep Singh (14 crore): Arshdeep’s growth has made him one of India’s premier bowlers. Known for his consistency in powerplay and death overs, he brings both skill and experience, making him a valuable asset in the pace department.
Harshal Patel (11 crore): Harshal’s impressive performance in the death overs during IPL 2024 has bolstered his profile. His ability to bowl under pressure and his knack for taking wickets make him an essential candidate for retention, filling a rare role in T20 cricket.
Prabhsimran Singh (4 crore): As a dynamic batter with wicketkeeping skills, Prabhsimran has shown his ability to capitalize on the powerplay overs. His aggressive approach in the early overs can set the tone for PBKS, and his dual role as a wicketkeeper-batsman adds depth.
velki live Shashank Singh (4 crore): Shashank provides depth in the middle order, with solid hitting ability and experience. His retention would complete the batting backbone for PBKS and provide additional options before the auction.
