Former Indian player Ajay Jadeja expressed disappointment with the changes Punjab Kings made this season.
The Mayank Agarwal-led side is currently slotted in the eight place in the points table with 10 points from 11 games.
PBKS will be in a do or die situation to win their remaining three games at any cost to stand any chance of making the cut for the playoffs.
Punjab Kings benched Shahrukh Khan
The team management led by head coach Anil Kumble have played a total of 18 players in 11 games but still haven’t figured out their right combinations.
After England player Jonny Bairstow returned from the West Indies Test series and joined PBKS camp, the team management dropped in-form Bhanuka Rajapaksa from the team.
The Sri Lankan left-handed batter played the first three games for PBKS and scored 83 runs at a staggering strike rate of 230.56. Although the team is currently playing both Rajapaksa and Bairstow after benching Odean Smith.
In another massive change, Punjab dropped Shahrukh Khan after the Tamil Nadu player scored run-a-ball 98 runs in seven innings at an average of 16.33.
All-rounder Rishi Dhawan made his first appearance for PBKS against Chennai Super Kings and starred with the ball with 2/39. He defended 27 runs in the final over against MS Dhoni.
Never expected Anil Kumble to bench Shahrukh Khan for Rishi Dhawan: Ajay Jadeja
Jadeja said he didn’t expect Shahrukh to get dropped from the side in order to accommodate Dhawan.
“I was one of the people who had high expectations from PBKS this season. I thought I would see a new Punjab this season. But, I never expected Anil Kumble to bench Shahrukh Khan for Rishi Dhawan,” Jadeja said on Cricbuzz.
“It has become very hard to assess this team. When we, sitting outside, are confused with the constant changes, imagine what the players might be feeling,” he added.
PBKS will play against RCB on Friday (May 13) in Mumbai for the IPL 2022 playoffs race.
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