The Punjab Kings are the second team to be eliminated from the playoffs of IPL 2024. Following their 60-run defeat to surging Royal Challengers Bangalore. It is a sad outcome for one of the franchise’s top teams. The spirited Punjab Kings, one of the fan favorites despite some heartfelt performances have once again missed out on the top spot. Despite several close finishes throughout this season, the team from Punjab now joins the Mumbai Indians as the team that is eliminated from the running for the trophy.
The question now is: who will join them as the tournament enters a crunch stage with remaining teams fighting for the top spots?
Punjab Kings – A Spirited Team with Little Luck
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It has been a tough season for the Punjab Kings. Arguably the team that has had the highest number of close finishes this season: with a 2-run defeat to the Sunrisers Hyderabad, a 3-wicket, and 1 1-ball defeat to the Rajasthan Royals at home. These games could have gone either way and if they had the Punjab Kings would have been looking at a very different season.
But that is the nature of the game. What matters at the end of the day is the outcome. And Punjab Kings despite some stellar performances such as their record 8-wicket win against the Kolkata Knight Riders chasing a mammoth 261 have showcased the consistency that top-ranking teams have shown.
The loss of captain Shikhar Dhawan has been a key factor in the Punjab King’s woes. In addition to being the leader, he has been the mainstay at the top, and the instability and uncertainty at the top, which at times has featured the stand-in captain Sam Curran opening the batting is telling.
Also Read: Taskin Ahmed Brilliant Performance: Leading Bangladesh’s Team
Who is Next After the Punjab Kings?
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The main takeaway for the Punjab Kings is to learn from this season and come back stronger in the next. IPL 2024 has been tough for certain teams. Notably, the Mumbai Indians, whose woes have been well-documented. Now that two teams have exited from contention all eyes turn to the last few games in the final weeks of the tournament. Today’s (May 10, 2024) clash between the Gujarat Titans and the Chennai Super Kings is another decider. A loss of GT would mean a certain exit. For the Chennai Super Kings, there is a bit more to go.
The question is which team can bring their A-game and keep performing under pressure. The Gujarat Titans will fancy their chances against the Chennai Super Kings who have had a mixed season. A team that comes with several top players in the bowling department is out of contention. Most notably that of Matheesha Pathirana which is a critical loss at the depth. So CSK the current champions are in no position to take it easy, for they play their cards wrong, they could be the next team on the elimination list.
About the Author
Damian Thar writes on a range of topics. In addition to his professional work, he writes essays on subjects like philosophy, history, and culture. He also writes and edits books; in his free time, he makes YouTube videos on social commentary. You can find his work here.
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