File Pic: Punjab Kings Players (ANI Photo) Last season’s runners-up, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) have built a high-ceiling, high-variability squad that is full of versatile players. However, they have a noticeable gap in the middle order that could potentially upset their balance and expose them to vulnerability in high-scoring games. Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, they will be eyeing their first IPL crown.Advantages: With Marcus Stonis, Azmatullah Omarzai and Marc Jansen, PBSK can stretch their batting up to number eight without sacrificing their bowling options. In the game, Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen have two top-class left-arm seamers who can be called upon at any time during the game. The team has a strong core of Indians including Iyer, Arshdeep, Yuzvendra Chahal and Prabhsimran Singh.
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Axar Patel questions Impact Player rule: ‘All-rounders lose value’ weaknesses: Punjab lack an established high-scoring domestic opener who could put the onus on their skipper to do most of the scoring at the top of the order. Lockie Ferguson brings raw pace but has a tendency to be erratic. The impact of aging stars like Stoinis and Chahal remains intact but their sustainability in a long tournament like the IPL remains a question mark.Opportunities: Young batsmen like Priyansh Arya can redefine Punjab’s starts in Powerplay with players Musheer Khan and Suryansh Shegde could become X-factors.threats: PBKS over-reliance on Iyer or Arshdeep could prove to be their undoing. If one of them has lean patches, their progress to the knockouts would seem uncertain. Overall, they have a squad full of options but are yet to establish their first choice XI.
