The 15th edition of the Indian Premier
League (IPL) is starting on Saturday with defending champions Chennai Super
Kings playing last season’s runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders in the season
opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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This season due to the mega auction, all
the teams have had to rebuild their squads. Punjab Kings too built their best
possible squad. Led by Mayank Agarwal, PBKS signed prolific opener batter
Shikhar Dhawan, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone
among others in quest of their maiden IPL title.

Despite having big names in the team,
former India cricketer turned commentator Sunil Gavaskar has cast doubts over
Punjab Kings’ chances of winning the IPL 2022. PBKS are among the three
franchises, that are yet to win the IPL, despite playing the T20 league since
its inception in 2008.

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“Punjab Kings is one of those teams who are
yet to win the title. This time, I don’t think they have an impact player in
the team they have built. On the other hand, though, this could also benefit
the side. When there are very low expectations, there is very less pressure,”
Gavaskar told Sports Tak.

Legendary Indian batter said that a team
has to be in a “consistent cycle” of winning in the shortest format, and added
that he is not yet convinced with PBKS as a title contender.

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“When the pressure is less, the players are
more free in their approach. In that aspect, I think Punjab Kings can surprise
a few. Will they win the trophy? I doubt that. See, this is a T20 format and
you have to be in that consistent cycle of winning,” said Gavaskar.

The Punjab Kings will open their campaign
against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 27.

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Punjab Kings squad: Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank
Agarwal, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet
Brar, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam
Livingstone, Odeon Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak
Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan
Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell