Punjab Kings (PBKS), formerly known as Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), is a prominent franchise cricket team that represents Mohali, Punjab, in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Established in 2008, this franchise has experienced a rollercoaster ride in the IPL, with highs and lows that have defined their journey. Let’s explore the remarkable history of the Punjab Kings.
The Genesis
In 2008, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced the Indian Premier League, a revolutionary cricket tournament based on the thrilling Twenty20 format. The IPL auctioned franchises for eight major cities, and the team representing Punjab was acquired by a consortium of prominent figures. This group included Mohit Burman (46%), Ness Wadia (23%) from the Wadia Group, actress Preity Zinta (23%), and Saptarshi Dey from the Dey & Dey Group (minor stake). The consortium invested a total of $76 million to secure the franchise.
The Kings XI Punjab, as they were initially known, represented a vast catchment area that encompassed regions like Kashmir, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. The team’s logo subtly alluded to these regions through the sequence of letters “K J H P H.”
Challenges and Resilience
The early years of the franchise saw them face challenges on and off the field. While they showcased some exceptional cricketing talent, the elusive IPL trophy remained just out of reach. However, the team never lost their determination.
Expulsion and Return
In 2010, a controversy involving the BCCI and Lalit Modi sent shockwaves through the IPL. The Indian Premier League announced the termination of the franchise contracts of both the Kings XI Punjab and the Rajasthan Royals. This decision led to a legal battle as both teams were determined to remain a part of the IPL.
Kings XI Punjab took the matter to the Mumbai High Court, accusing the IPL of trying to remove them to secure more lucrative bids in the 2012 IPL season. Ultimately, they were reinstated into the league with the involvement of the High Court, marking a significant victory for the franchise.
A Fresh Start: The Name Change
In February 2021, the franchise decided to embark on a new chapter in their IPL journey by rebranding themselves as the Punjab Kings. Ness Wadia, one of the team’s owners, explained that the name change was motivated by a desire to reevaluate their approach after 13 seasons in the IPL. The team’s performance, although commendable, had yet to secure an IPL title, and the name change symbolized a fresh start.
The decision had been in the works for two years, and the COVID-19 pandemic had only delayed the announcement. It was an opportunity for the Punjab Kings to revitalize their identity and their quest for IPL glory.
The Punjab Kings, under their new name, continue to march forward with renewed energy and determination. The IPL journey has been a test of their resilience, and they remain unwavering in their pursuit of cricketing excellence. As they compete in each IPL season, they carry with them the hopes and dreams of a passionate fan base, eagerly waiting for the day when they can lift the coveted IPL trophy.
Season By Season
2008 – Third The inaugural IPL season saw the emergence of Shaun Marsh as a star performer. Scoring 616 runs, Marsh led Punjab to the knockout stage. They secured 11 victories in the league but fell short in the semi-final, losing to the Chennai Super Kings by nine wickets.
2009 – Fifth In 2009, Punjab tied in points on the table with eventual champions Deccan Chargers but missed out on the semi-finals due to a lower net run rate. The team, playing in South Africa, didn’t have any standout performances and would have finished seventh if not for a fortunate twist in a match against the Mumbai Indians.
2010 – Eighth Despite notable contributions from Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Irfan Pathan, Punjab’s early losses proved costly. They managed only one win out of their first eight games, leading to a bottom-of-the-table finish.
2011 – Fifth In 2011, Punjab missed out on a playoff spot. Led by Adam Gilchrist, the team showcased consistent but unspectacular performances, with Shaun Marsh once again shining as the standout performer.
2012 – Sixth The bowlers, particularly Parvinder Awana and Piyush Chawla, outperformed the batters in 2012. Despite the efforts of emerging talent like Mandeep Singh, Punjab could only manage a sixth-place finish.
2013 – Sixth In 2013, David Miller made headlines with a spectacular 38-ball century against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Punjab secured eight wins but finished in a mid-table position with eight losses.
2014 – Runners-Up Punjab had an outstanding group stage, with 11 victories. The season’s highlights included exceptional batting performances from Glenn Maxwell and David Miller. However, despite a thrilling century from Wriddhiman Saha in the final, Punjab narrowly lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.
2015 – Eighth In 2015, everything seemed to go wrong for Punjab. Key players like Maxwell and Miller struggled, resulting in only three wins in the league stage and a last-place finish.
2016 – Eighth Another challenging season for Punjab, marked by close losses. One memorable match against Rising Pune Supergiant, where they failed to defend 23 runs in the final over, epitomized their struggles.
2017 – Fifth Glenn Maxwell was named captain in 2017, and the team performed better than in the previous two seasons. However, they were bowled out for just 73 in a crucial match against Rising Pune Supergiant, which they needed to win to make the playoffs.
2018 – Seventh The squad underwent changes, and R Ashwin took over as captain. Punjab started strongly but couldn’t maintain their form, winning only one of their last eight matches. KL Rahul’s 659 runs were a bright spot in a challenging season.
2019 – Sixth With six wins and 12 points, Punjab narrowly missed the playoffs. Despite impressive performances from KL Rahul, R Ashwin, and Mohammed Shami, they couldn’t find the consistency needed to advance.
2020 – Sixth Punjab ended the season with six wins and 12 points once more. Their campaign was marked by a rollercoaster of close games, but they couldn’t maintain momentum and secure a playoff spot.
2021 – Sixth For the third consecutive year, Punjab finished sixth on the table with 12 points. Their batting openers continued to excel, with KL Rahul leading the charge, but they struggled to maintain consistent performances as a team.
2022 – Sixth In 2022, Punjab finished in sixth place for the fourth consecutive year. Despite a strong batting lineup, they were unable to capitalize on their big-hitting talents. Close losses and individual brilliance not translating into team success left them one win away from the playoffs.
2023 – Eighth Punjab’s 2023 season was marked by inconsistency. They never lost more than two consecutive games but struggled to find a strong winning streak. Injuries to key players, including Jonny Bairstow, affected their performance, but uncapped talents like Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma stepped up in their absence.
Indian Premier League Standing
| Year | League standing | Final standing |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2nd out of 8 | Semi-finalists |
| 2009 | 5th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2010 | 8th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2011 | 5th out of 10 | League stage |
| 2012 | 6th out of 9 | League stage |
| 2013 | 6th out of 9 | League stage |
| 2014 | 1st out of 8 | Runner up |
| 2015 | 8th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2016 | 8th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2017 | 5th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2018 | 7th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2019 | 6th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2020 | 6th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2021 | 6th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2022 | 6th out of 10 | League stage |
| 2023 | 8th out of 10 | League stage |
IPL Performance summary
| Year | Matches | Wins | Losses | No result | % win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 66.66% |
| 2009 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 50.00% |
| 2010 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 21.43% |
| 2011 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 50.00% |
| 2012 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 50.00% |
| 2013 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 50.00% |
| 2014 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 70.58% |
| 2015 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 21.43% |
| 2016 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 28.57% |
| 2017 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 50.00% |
| 2018 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 42.85% |
| 2019 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 42.85% |
| 2020 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 42.85% |
| 2021 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 42.85% |
| 2022 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 50.00% |
| 2023 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 42.85% |
| Total | 232 | 106 | 124 | 2 | 45.69% |
BY Opposition
| Teams | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | No result | % win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 29 | 13 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 44.83% |
| Delhi Capitals | 30 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 32 | 11 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 34.37% |
| Mumbai Indians | 31 | 15 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 48.39% |
| Rajasthan Royals | 25 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 44.00% |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | 31 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 54.83% |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 21 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 33.33% |
| Deccan Chargers | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 70.00% |
| Gujarat Titans | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
| Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
| Pune Warriors India | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
| Rising Pune Supergiant | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
| Total | 224 | 104 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 46.43% |
Highest Totals
| SCORE | OPPONENT | GROUND |
| 232/2 | ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE | DHARAMSALA |
| 231/4 | CHENNAI SUPER KINGS | CUTTACK |
| 230/3 | MUMBAI INDIANS | WANKHEDE |
| 226/6 | CHENNAI SUPER KINGS | WANKHEDE |
Lowest Totals
| SCORE | OPPONENT | GROUND |
| 73 | RISING PUNE SUPERGIANTS | PUNE |
| 88 | ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE | INDORE |
| 88 | ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE | BENGALURU |
| 92 | CHENNAI SUPER KINGS | DURBAN |
Most Runs
| PLAYER | MATCH | RUNS |
| KL RAHUL | 55 | 2548 |
| SHAUN MARSH | 71 | 2477 |
| DAVID MILLER | 79 | 1850 |
| MAYANK AGARWAL | 60 | 1513 |
Most Wicket
| PLAYER | MATCH | WICKET |
| PIYUSH CHAWLA | 87 | 84 |
| SANDEEP SHARMA | 81 | 73 |
| AXAR PATEL | 68 | 61 |
| MOHAMMAD SHAMI | 42 | 58 |
Punjab Kings Squad
Gurnoor Brar, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Sam Curran, Rishi Dhawan, Shikhar Dhawan, Nathan Ellis, Vidwath Kaverappa, M Shahrukh Khan, Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Mohit Rathee, Sikandar Raza, Jitesh Sharma, Matthew Short, Arshdeep Singh, Baltej Singh, Harpreet Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Shivam Singh, Atharva Taide
