Cricket

Ahead of the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions, Punjab Kings have announced the retention of batters Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh for the upcoming season.Prabhsimran, a wicketkeeper-batsman, has been with Punjab since 2019 and has amassed 756 runs in 34 games, averaging 22.24 with a strike rate of 146.23. Last season, he played some impressive innings, showcasing his potential.Shashank Singh emerged as a key player for Punjab last season, scoring 354 runs in 14 games at an average of 44.25 and a strike rate of 164.65. His ability to bat at multiple positions in the order and his exceptional fielding skills make him a valuable asset to the team.Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon expressed the franchise's goal of winning the IPL trophy this season. He praised newly appointed head coach Ricky Ponting, describing him as one of the sharpest minds in cricket."This auction will be critical as we go there with maximum purse. We will build on what we have at the moment. It will be an interesting auction, especially for us, as we also have a new coach in Ricky Ponting. He is one of the sharpest minds in cricket. You will see us develop an extraordinary team. Our goal is to go for silverware this year - nothing short of that," Menon said.Menon emphasized the franchise's faith in Prabhsimran Singh, stating that they have witnessed his development over the past six years. He believes Prabhsimran is on the cusp of breaking into the big leagues.Regarding Shashank Singh, Menon highlighted his versatility and passion, which were key factors in his retention. He also praised Shashank's gun fielding abilities.Earlier this year, Punjab Kings appointed Ricky Ponting as their head coach. Menon hinted that Ponting's fresh ideas and experience will be instrumental in the upcoming auctions.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to retain only two uncapped players, Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. With the largest purse of over INR 100 crore and four right-to-match options, PBKS will enter the auction with significant financial flexibility.Despite their interest in retaining Arshdeep Singh, their second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024, PBKS has opted to release several high-profile players, including Harshal Patel, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, and Liam Livingstone.The retention of Shashank and Prabhsimran, who were PBKS's top two scorers in IPL 2024, will cost the franchise INR 8 crore from their purse. Both batters played crucial roles in PBKS's record chase of 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.PBKS has been struggling to qualify for the IPL playoffs since 2014 and has made significant changes to its coaching setup, appointing Ricky Ponting as head coach. The franchise hopes that these changes will improve their performance in 2025.The deadline for franchises to submit their lists of retained players is October 31. Teams can retain up to six players, with a maximum of five capped internationals and two uncapped players. While the IPL has set minimum deductions from the auction purse for each retained player, franchises are free to pay more or less than those amounts.

Punjab Kings' captain Shikhar Dhawan led the charge with a gritty 45 off 37 deliveries, laying the foundation for their competitive total of 176 for six against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The pitch provided ample bounce, aiding the RCB bowlers initially.Dhawan's innings was characterized by his ability to capitalize on loose deliveries, including a lofted six over long-on off Mayank Dagar. He formed a crucial partnership with Prabhsimran Singh (25 off 17), who showcased his aggressive instincts with a flicked six over mid-wicket off Cameron Green.However, the RCB bowlers, particularly Yash Dayal (1/23), kept the Punjab batsmen in check with accurate deliveries. Prabhsimran's dismissal, caught by Anuj Rawat off Glenn Maxwell, and Dhawan's subsequent departure, caught by Virat Kohli off Maxwell, left Punjab at 98 for four in the 12th over.Jitesh Sharma (27 off 20) provided a much-needed boost with two sixes off Dagar, while Sam Curran (34 off 23) added valuable runs in a 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Shashank Singh's late cameo, including a 20-run over off Alzarri Joseph, helped Punjab reach a respectable total.Despite the solid batting performance, Punjab would have preferred a higher score to challenge the formidable RCB batting lineup.