• Sportzyverse
• IPL 2024
• 05/24/2024
• 0 Comments

Punjab Kings (PBKS) endured a tough season in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), finishing ninth in the standings. Despite being finalists in the 2014 season, PBKS struggled to find form this year. Their playoff hopes were dashed following a significant 60-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Dharamsala. A key factor in their underwhelming performance was the absence of their skipper, Shikhar Dhawan, who suffered a shoulder injury early in the tournament.

Dhawan’s Injury Setback

Shikhar Dhawan injured his shoulder in a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 9. England all-rounder Sam Curran took over the captaincy in his absence, with Jitesh Sharma sometimes stepping in. Unfortunately, Dhawan only made five appearances for PBKS during the 2024 season. His absence was felt as the team struggled to find consistency and form without their experienced opener.

In a candid interview with ANI, Shikhar Dhawan discussed his IPL journey and addressed retirement speculations. The veteran opener acknowledged that he is in a transitional phase in his career. “I am also going through a transition ‘Jahan Meri Cricket Vishram Pe Aayegi’ and a new chapter in my life will start. You only have a certain age till you can play. It could be one year more, two years more, or xyz for me,” Dhawan said, indicating his awareness of the nearing end of his professional cricket career.

Dhawan expressed his disappointment by reflecting on his injury and its impact on the season. “Unfortunately, I got injured this IPL season and could not play for Punjab except for 4-5 matches. It takes time to recover. I am still healing. I have not recovered 100 percent yet,” he explained. Dhawan’s injury significantly affected PBKS, as he was expected to play a crucial role with the bat.

Career Achievements

Despite the recent setbacks, Dhawan remains one of the most prolific run-scorers in IPL history. He moved to PBKS after an impressive stint with Delhi Capitals (DC) and was signed for INR 8.25 crore in the IPL 2022 auction. In his first season with PBKS, he emerged as their highest run-getter, amassing 460 runs. Although his performance dipped slightly in the 2023 season, he still managed to score 373 runs in 11 games. With 6,769 runs in 222 IPL matches, Dhawan is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament’s history.

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As Dhawan continues to recover from his injury, the future remains uncertain. Whether he will continue to play for another season or transition to a new chapter in his life, his contributions to Indian cricket and the IPL have been substantial. PBKS fans will be hoping for a stronger performance in the next season, potentially with Dhawan returning to full fitness and leading the charge once again.