Five reasons why Punjab can win their maiden Indian T20 league title

Punjab are one of the few teams that are yet to win their maiden Indian T20 League title. Despite all the hype, the fans of the franchise are always disappointed towards the end of every season. The last time the Punjab-based franchise reached the playoffs was in 2014.

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However, the management of the franchise purchased some quality players during the mega auction. Due to this, the Mayank Agarwal-led side looks really strong on paper. So can they win their maiden title this time around? Today, we shall be taking a look at five reasons why Punjab can win the 15th edition of the Indian T20 league.

1) Aggressive batters:

Punjab have a lot of explosive batters for the upcoming edition. On their day, they can chase any total. The best part is that their batters are sensible and know when to play the big shots.

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The likes of Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan are seasoned campaigners in the toughest 20. As for Jonny Bairstow, he has been playing T20s for quite a while as well. Even the likes of Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan have shown immense maturity in the recent past.

2) Top-class all-rounders:

Quality all-rounders always play a crucial role in a T20 game. The Punjab-based franchise have no shortage of all-rounders. First things first, Livingstone has worked on his bowling and has consistently been bowling four overs in a game. The likes of Rishi Dhawan and Odean Smith have been in superb form as well.

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Raj Bawa showcased a glimpse of his potential during the U19 World Cup. Even Harpreet Brar was fairly decent during the 2022 edition for Punjab. These all-rounders strengthen the batting depth as well.

3) Trusted pacers:

The 2014-finalists have a superb pace attack this time around. Kagiso Rabada is expected to lead the attack. Not only can he bowl with the new ball but he is deadly at death as well.

Accompanying him would be the talented Arshdeep Singh, who was retained by the franchises ahead of the mega auction. His skills managed to impress all the pundits and experts. Moreover, the likes of Sandeep Sharma and Odean Smith can prove to be really handy.

4) Correct mix of youth and experience:

While some teams have several youngsters, the others have the seasoned campaigners. However, Punjab have an ideal mixture of both. Talented youngsters like Khan, Bawa and Brar will most likely be starting in the XI. These individuals would be keen to get on the field and solidify their reputation.

Even the likes of Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh would want to continue their good performances. When it comes to the experienced players, a lot is expected from Shikhar Dhawan and Bairstow. Although the Punjab skipper Agarwal and Rishi Dhawan aren't necessarily veteran players in the international arena, they have been playing domestic cricket for quite a while now.

5) Bench strength:

Every franchise needs to have its contingency plans in case things go haywire. In the case of Punjab, many of their backup options are good enough to feature in the playing XI. Ishan Porel is one name that might not get a chance during the initial stage of the tournament.

Even Nathan Ellis has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. When it comes to their batting, Bhanuka Rajapaksa is a reliable middle-order batter, who can play in the XI if any batter gets injured or loses his form. Thus, Punjab's team management need not to worry if things get a little trickier.