Pacers, all-rounders, match-winners! Aakash Chopra warns IPL teams as he reveals Punjab Kings' strengths

Former India batsman turned expert analyst Aakash Chopra, who will be lighting up IPL 2024 with his commentary in Jio Cinema, hailed Punjab Kings for their depth in the fast bowling department. While speaking on his latest YouTube video, Chopra heaped praise on Punjab’s management for smartly accumulating a quality bowling line-up during the IPL auction last year in Dubai’s Coca-Cola arena.

By the looks of their squad, Punjab Kings have very good foreign as well as local players and will be aiming to claim the coveted IPL trophy for the first time. Along with RCB and Delhi Capitals, the Kings are the only team to have never won the richest T20 league but the Shikhar Dhawan-led side have a very good chance of quenching their thirst this year. And their biggest strength? It is their bowling, according to Aakash Chopra.

Aakash Chopra says Punjab have efficient death bowlers

While doing the analysis of Punjab Kings, Aakash Chopra noted that the North-Indian outfit has a very efficient death bowling attack. He named Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel as the two bowlers who are exceptional towards the final overs of an innings. While Arshdeep does really well with his pace and yorkers, Harshal is very good in terms of the variation he contains.

“Their pace bowling unit is actually decent because they have lots of options. A good Indian fast bowler in the form of Arshdeep Singh and then Harshal Patel. So you get death bowlers in Harshal and Arshdeep and a new-ball bowler in Arshdeep,” Aakash Chopra said via his latest YouTube video. 

Aakash Chopra then went on to remind the foreign bowling department of the 2014 runners-up, which has some lethal bowlers like Australia’s Nathan Ellis, and South African speedster Kagiso Rabada. Other than them, Punjab have the English duo of Chris Woakes and Sam Curran who too are good bowlers but there are doubts regarding their death bowling prowess.

Nathan Ellis and Kagiso Rabada are two bowlers who come in with a lot of pace as well as experience and the duo will be very important for the Kings.

“You get three more bowlers in the form of Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, and Sam Curran, and you have got Chris Woakes. So you have got a plethora of fast-bowling options. So this team’s fast bowling is good and we will keep it among their strengths,” Chopra added.