IPL Auctions 2024: Top 5 players that Punjab Kings will target in upcoming auctions

Punjab Kings has been one of the underperformed teams in the IPL history. They have been a part of the IPL since its inception and haven’t yet managed to get their hands on the coveted IPL trophy even since. In the year 2014, they made it to the finals of the  IPL for the first time but since then they have disappointed their fans.

One of the prominent reasons for their average performance has been the lack of a core group. PBKS as a franchise is known to chop and change their squad quite a bit which is why they haven’t been able to form a strong core till now. But in this season they have retained a set of strong players in their team and would like to build a strong team surrounding these players.

PBKS have retained 17 players in their squad and they still have 29.1 Cr left in their purse which means that they can still go for some marquee players in the auctions. They still have to fill 8 slots in their squad which includes 2 overseas slots. Here, we have the list of top 5 players that PBKS could go for in the upcoming auction:

1. Travis Head

After the ODI World Cup 2023 final, where the aggressive opener from Australia wreaked havoc on the India bowlers, his demand in the upcoming mini-auction will be sky-rocketed, and he is expected to walk away with a huge sum. Punjab Kings is also looking for an explosive opener to bat alongside their captain Shikhar Dhawan, an IPL veteran.

If Punjab manages to get Travis Head in their team, then they will boast of an explosive top-order with Shikhar, Head, and Bairstow in their top 3. Head will also provide them with a good off-spin option in the middle-order tricking the batters with his clever bowling skills.

2. Shardul Thakur

Out of the 8 slots they have filled, six will have to be filled by India players, and Shardul Thakur is expected to be the hottest pick. Thakur decent medium pace with good seam and swing, a knack for hitting a long ball is a skill that is a rare sight in the Indian cricketing set-up.

Shardul Thakur has a knack for breaking partnerships with his seam bowling. This was a part of the Indian ODI squad which made to the finals of the ODI World Cup. In this year’s auction, Thakur is all set to be the highest-paid Indian cricketer.

3. Michael Bracewell

Acquiring the Kiwi player in the IPL 2024 auctions in Dubai could prove to be a highly strategic move for Punjab Kings. Michael Bracewell brings not only valuable off-spin bowling skills but also a potent batting ability, especially effective in the latter part of the innings which he proved in the one-day innings against India. Securing the services of the Kiwi player would significantly impact Punjab Kings' ability to successfully finish matches especially after they parted ways with Shahrukh Khan.

4. Wanindu Hasaranga

The upcoming IPL auction is creating a lot of excitement in the cricket world, and one player attracting a lot of attention from franchises is Wanindu Hasaranga. The Sri Lankan all-rounder was recently released by Royal Challengers Bangalore, and he is expected to be a highly sought-after player in the auction.

With his difficult spin variations and handy batting at the lower middle order, Hasaranga can prove to be a game-changer for PBKS in this year’s IPL.

5. Gerald Coetzee

Young South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee shone brightly in the recent 2023 Cricket World Cup. Despite being only 23 years old, he became one of the tournament's top wicket-takers, claiming 20 wickets in just eight matches. His outstanding performance played a crucial role in helping South Africa reach the semi-finals.

With both Arshdeep Singh and Sam Curran in hot and cold form PBKS can go for this young pacer from South Africa that will complement Kagiso Rabada pretty well in their bowling line-up.