Image Credit- BCCI
Even though hitters will be the main focus of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2024 Indian Premier League, bowling is not one of their problems.
199 is the maximum that has been scored against PBKS, who are the only team to have yet to let up 200 or more in an innings. With a bowling average of 24.94, they lead all teams this season, followed by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with 25.47. PBKS has hit 23 times at the end (overs 17 to 20), more than any other side in IPL 2024, and their average in that period (15.73) is also the best. This season, they have also been the third-most economical bowling team (8.98).
They are currently in Eden Gardens, a location where in three of the four matches played so far, the 200 mark has been reached in both innings. This season, it has had the third-highest scoring rate (10.43), behind only Delhi (11.48) and Hyderabad (10.92).
Which brings us full circle to the PBKS batters. They have the second-lowest batting average (23.84) and are the second-lowest scoring club (strike rate of 137.31). Despite having 24 batters reach the 200-run mark, none of their hitters have done so yet; Shashank Singh leads the team with 195 runs.
This season, KKR has proven to be a difficult team to score on or bowl against. Here, these are the favourites. Therefore, in KKR’s den, PBKS has to score more runs than they have thus far and hope that the bowlers continue to perform as they have. Remember that PBKS has only triumphed in three of their previous twelve games—just one of the previous eight—at Eden Gardens.
Eden Gardens has the lowest economy rate (13.50) among all IPL grounds when fast bowlers bowl full under lights. In the 2024 Indian Premier League, Mitchell Starc, who enjoys hitting the ball farther, will have to call this ground home. His performance has reflected those numbers. In an afternoon encounter against the Lucknow Super Giants, he bowled first in Kolkata and turned up his finest performance of the season (3 for 28). The most costly in many aspects, Starc must eventually live up to his reputation.
With four wickets at an average of more than 45 and an economy rate of 11.31 in the first four games of the IPL 2024, Harshal Patel’s performance was forgettable. However, he has subsequently returned nine wickets at an economy of 7.46 and an average of little under 11, seven of which came at the end of the innings. He has bowled in all three phases in the last four games and has been efficient with pace and angle adjustments.