Punjab Kings' captain, Shikhar Dhawan, could potentially be sidelined for a minimum of seven to ten days owing to a shoulder injury, as hinted by the team's head of cricket development, Sanjay Bangar, following their narrow defeat against Rajasthan Royals.
Dhawan's absence was notable in the match against Royals, with Sam Curran stepping up to lead the team in his place. Bangar shed light on Dhawan's injury, stating, "He's nursing a shoulder injury, indicating he might need a couple of days to recover. Having an experienced opener like Shikhar, especially on challenging pitches, is paramount for the team's success. We're monitoring his response to treatment, but it appears he could be sidelined for at least a week to ten days."
Jitesh Sharma stood in for Dhawan at the captains' meeting at the beginning of the season, as Dhawan was sidelined due to illness. Despite this, Curran's appearance for the toss raised eyebrows. However, Bangar clarified that Curran's leadership role was always clear within the team structure. "Jitesh wasn't designated as vice-captain. The confusion might have arisen because he attended the captains' seminar at the IPL's outset. However, it was always understood that Sam Curran, having led the team previously, would step in if needed."
Both Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow have struggled to provide solid starts for the team, contributing to their inconsistent performances in the tournament. Atharva Taide, Dhawan's replacement in the recent game, also failed to make a significant impact against Royals, further highlighting the team's concerns at the top order.
Bangar acknowledged this, stating, "It's definitely worrying that our top order isn't firing. They're putting in the effort, but the results aren't materializing. Additionally, low-scoring matches, especially at Mullanpur, due to the challenging pitch conditions, are a factor. In the initial overs, the ball tends to behave unpredictably, affecting both us and visiting teams' top orders."
Read also | KL Rahul Discusses Mayank's Recovery and Frazer-McGurk's Unexpected Impact for LSG
