IPL 2023: Punjab Kings’ new skipper Shikhar Dhawan claims team will gear up nicely for next season

Dhawan
–
who
was
roped
in
by
the
Mohali-based
franchise
in
the
last
auction
for
a
sum
of
Rs
8.25
crore
–
had
a
good
season
with
the
bat
for
Punjab
Kings
as
he
went
on
to
score
460
runs
in
14
games
at
an
average
of
38.33.

The
southpaw
–
who
played
for
Delhi
Capitals
in
the
season
prior
to
that
–
was
consistent
with
the
bat.
Mayank
Agarwal-led
Punjab
Kings’ finished
sixth
in
IPL
15
and
the
skipper
too
had
a
poor
season.
The
right-handed
batter
scored
196
runs
in
13
games
and
scored
at
a
strike
rate
of
122.50
in
the
showpiece
edition.

Speaking
about
his
appointment
as
the
captain
of
the
side,
Dhawan
–
who
will
be
the
14th
captain
for
the
franchise
in
16
seasons
–
expressed
his
elation.
The
Delhi
cricketer
also
claimed
that
he’s
looking
forward
to
a
new
season.

“I
am
proud
to
have
been
appointed
the
captain
of
Punjab
Kings.
It’s
all
because
of
your
prayers
and
love
that
I
have
been
given
such
a
huge
responsibility.
I
am
really
happy
and
would
like
to
thank
the
Sher
Squad.
I
am
looking
forward
to
the
new
season.
The
entire
team
will
gear
up
nicely
for
the
upcoming
season
and
for
that,
we
will
need
your
blessings.
And
with
the
blessings
of
the
Almighty,
we
will
try
to
conquer
the
world,”
said
Dhawan
in
a
video
shared
by
Punjab
Kings.

Ahead
of
IPL
2023,
PBKS
team
management
also
appointed
Trevor
Baylis
as
the
new
head
coach
of
the
side
after
parting
ways
with
former
India
cricketer
Anil
Kumble.

The
franchise
might
also
offload
several
players
on
the
side
to
increase
its
purse
ahead
of
the
IPL
2023
Auction.
As
per
a
Cricbuzz
report,
the
new
head
coach,
the
team
is
looking
to
buy
Ben
Stokes,
Cameron
Green
and
Sam
Curran
at
the
auction.

The
franchise
is
might
release
Mayank
Agarwal
(Rs
12
crore),
Shahrukh
Khan
(Rs
9
crore)
and
Odean
Smith
(Rs
6
crore)
ahead
of
the
auction.