The Punjab Kings (PBKS) concluded their squad selection for the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season during the mini-auction in Dubai. Armed with a substantial purse of ₹29.10 crore, the 2014 IPL finalists initially aimed for the New Zealand duo of Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell but lost out to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in both instances.

PBKS secured their first acquisition by investing ₹11.75 crore in Harshal Patel, the IPL 2021 Purple Cap winner recently released by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). This move aimed to fortify their bowling, a crucial aspect in T20 cricket. The team further strengthened its bowling unit with the addition of England all-rounder Chris Woakes for ₹4.2 crore, making him the fourth English player in the PBKS squad alongside Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, and Jonny Bairstow.

See Also:Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL 2024 Squad-Full Player List, Auction Purchases, Remaining Purse

In the accelerated round of the auction, PBKS strategically acquired players to balance their squad. Ashutosh Sharma was secured for his base price of ₹20 lakh, and in quick succession, they added Vishwanathan Pratap Singh, Shashank Singh, Prince Choudhary, and Tanay Thyagaranjann, all at the same base price. However, there was a moment of confusion when PBKS, after winning the bid for Shashank Singh, expressed that they did not want his services. Despite the mix-up, the auctioneer finalized the sale, and the decision was not reversed.

The second accelerated round witnessed PBKS making their final move, enhancing their batting lineup with the acquisition of South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw for ₹8 crore. This addition came after a fierce bidding war with the Delhi Capitals (DC), underscoring PBKS’s commitment to building a well-rounded and competitive team for the upcoming IPL season.

PBKS Retained Players:

Newly Added Players to PBKS Team 2024:

Squad Strength: 25 (Indian-17, Overseas-8)

Purse Remaining: INR – 4.15 Crore