KL Rahul, Punjab Kings
KL Rahul. (Photo: BCCI)

Punjab’s most consistent batsmen for the last four seasons, KL Rahul is set to part ways with the franchise ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auctions. The franchise has released him and one could see a new player leading the team from next year.

KL Rahul has been the standout batsman for Punjab Kings for the last three consecutive seasons. He took over the captaincy from Ravi Ashwin in IPL 2019. However, despite scoring a plethora of runs, he couldn’t take the team to the playoffs on a single occasion.

KL Rahul
KL Rahul (Image: IPL/Twitter)

KL Rahul And Mohammed Shami Released By Punjab Kings (PBKS) In IPL 2022 Retention

Punjab finished at the bottom half of the table for the last four consecutive seasons. KL Rahul finished last season as the third-highest run-getter in the tournament.

Among all the batsmen in the top 10 run-getters, he had the highest average of 62.60. In 13 matches, he scored 626 runs at a strike rate of close to 140. KL Rahul’s exclusion could be a huge loss for the franchise given the kind of form he is right now.

Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami (Image Credit: Twitter)

Another notable exclusion from the team is Mohammed Shami. Senior fast bowler, Mohammed Shami, too, has been released by Punjab Kings. Mohammad Shami was sold to Punjab for 4.8 crores in 2018 IPL auctions.

He has performed quite well for the team in all the seasons he was part of. Shami gave away runs at less than 8 an over in IPL 2021 and picked 19 wickets in 14 matches. He was brilliantly both in the powerplay as well as in the death overs, especially in the second leg of IPL 2021.

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Overall, Mohammad Shami has played 79 matches in the Indian Premier League, picking 79 wickets at an average of 30.40.