Jonny Bairstow to Miss IPL 2023: In a massive blow to the Punjab Kings ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, it has been confirmed that England’s explosive batsman, Jonny Bairstow, may miss the entire season. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) denied granting him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the high-profile T20 league, which begins on March 31.
Bairstow suffered a leg injury in September last year, and although it’s now healing, the ECB has decided not to grant him a NOC. The news comes as a huge setback for Punjab Kings, who had acquired Bairstow for a whopping Rs 6.75 crores in the IPL auction.
The Punjab Kings had invested heavily in English talent, paying Rs 11.50 crores for Liam Livingstone and Rs 18.50 crores for Sam Curran. While Livingstone, who had suffered knee and ankle injuries, has been granted permission by the ECB to participate in the IPL after recovering, Bairstow’s absence will be a significant blow to the team’s plans.
Punjab Kings, who finished sixth in the last season, will now have to re-evaluate their batting line-up ahead of their opening match against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 1 at their home ground Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali.
While Bairstow’s absence will be felt, Punjab Kings will still have the services of Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone. Reports suggest that Livingstone will be available for the entire season for the team, while Curran has also confirmed his availability for the tournament.
Bairstow is considered to be one of the best T20 batsmen in the world, and his absence will be felt by the Punjab Kings. The team had hoped that he would form a formidable opening partnership with Shikhar Dhawan, who is also the team’s captain. Bairstow has a wealth of experience playing in T20 leagues around the world, including the IPL, and his presence would have been invaluable for the Punjab Kings.
Punjab Kings will begin their IPL 2023 campaign against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 1 at their home ground, the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. The absence of Jonny Bairstow will be a huge blow to the team, and they will need to regroup quickly to perform well in the tournament.
With Livingstone and Curran available, the team will still have a strong English presence, and fans will hope that they can make up for the absence of Bairstow.
Punjab Kings Squad for IPL 2023
The Punjab Kings have put together an impressive squad for the upcoming IPL 2023 season. The team has made some smart acquisitions in the auction and will be hoping to put up a strong performance in the tournament.
PBKS team will be led by Shikhar Dhawan, who will be the opener as well, for Punjab Kings. Captain will be leading from the front to take his team to at a higher level this season. Here is the complete Punjab Kings Squad for IPL 2023:
Punjab Kings Squad: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Chahar, Liam Livingstone, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Baltej Dhanda, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Sikandar Raza, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Harpreet Bhatia, Shivam Singh, Vidwath Kaverappa, Mohit Rathe
Also read: IPL 2023 All Teams Squad
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