IPL 2023: 3 Players Who Will Be Crucial for Punjab Kings to Win PBKS vs MI Match No. 45

IPL 2023: Having won a high-voltage clash in the last game against the four-time champion Chennai Super Kings, Shikhar Dhawan, and his men will be high on confidence. Punjab Kings are currently fighting for a place in the playoffs. For that, they will have to win the next game on Wednesday. It will be a match against the all-spirited Mumbai Indians.

Notably, this game will feature two teams that chased down 200 totals on Sunday in two games. This match will be the second game of the doubleheader on Wednesday, which will take place at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. PBKS will be feeling good after registering the biggest chase at the Chepauk Stadium and will look to continue that form. Hence, we will talk here about three vital Punjab players for PBKS vs MI Match No. 45.

IPL 2023: 3 Key Players for Punjab Kings in PBKS vs MI Match No. 45

3. Liam Livingstone

Liam Livingstone is the biggest power-hitter in the PBKS lineup, and that’s what he showed in the last game. It was looking difficult for Punjab to chase down the 200-run target, then he smashed Tushar Deshpande for 24 runs in an over, which changed the complexity of the game. He ended up with a fiery 40 off 24, with four sixes and one four.

That laid the foundation for the big chase. Whether it is chasing or setting the target, Livingstone is a vital cog in the batting order for Punjab. Because if he can stay for a while, he will change the game in favor of PBKS. His team will want him to play yet another match-turning inning, which can put pressure on MI, who are already struggling with their bowling.

2. Sam Curran

The English all-rounder has been a great addition to the Punjab Kings. Though the franchise invested a huge amount in him, they certainly have gotten value for their money so far. Sam Curran has performed well with both the bat and the ball. He has played some important innings down the order and bowled tough overs, which has given great balance to the team.

So far, he has scored 192 runs at a decent strike rate of 143.28. His 20-ball 29 helped PBKS reach the target of CSK in the last game. Apart from that, he has also taken seven wickets so far. Thus, he will be once again tested, but his current form seems to be so good that he can take his team home from any situation.

1. Shikhar Dhawan

Without a doubt, the return of Shikhar Dhawan has given some confidence to the batting unit. It was seen in the last game when he started the 201-run chase with a small cameo of 28 off 15 against CSK. Dhawan is the backbone of the team, and the whole team revolves around him.

He is a perfect anchor, and others can play freely when he is at the crease. That will be the biggest hurdle to cross for the five-time champion. Because if Dhawan is at the crease, then other batters will keep on going after the bowling. And if MI can remove the PBKS skipper, then there will be a lot of pressure on the home team. It means Dhawan is very important for Punjab, and MI needs to remove him as early as possible.