"If things fall in place, this team has the ability to reach the final 4" - Aakash Chopra on Punjab Kings' positives heading into IPL 2025
Aakash Chopra reckons the Punjab Kings (PBKS) can reach the IPL 2025 playoffs if things go in their favor. He pointed out that the Punjab-based franchise has a formidable middle order and excellent bowling options.
PBKS have never won the IPL title, with the runners-up finish in the 2014 edition being their best result. They finished ninth in IPL 2024 and have not reached the playoffs in the last 10 seasons.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener was optimistic about the Punjab Kings' chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
"You can give them 8.2 or 8.3 out of 10 for the auction. The team is decent. All the holes have not been plugged, considering you had such a big kitty, but sometimes that's not possible. If things fall in place, this team has the ability to reach the final four," he said (11:20).
Chopra noted that PBKS have a 'solid' batting lineup from No. 3 to No. 7.
"Shreyas Iyer will, of course, be at No. 3. He is a good player. After that, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell are there, and then they have Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh. The batting has depth and explosive ability. They got Maxwell for ₹4.20 crore. It was a great steal buy," he elaborated.
"So Shreyas Iyer, Stoinis, Maxwell, Wadhera and Shashank Singh - these are your five players after your two openers. On their day, they can be absolutely lethal. This is their engine room. We will have to see how the opening goes but the engine room looks very solid to me," Chopra added.
However, Chopra acknowledged that PBKS' batting lineup could be slightly volatile, especially considering the presence of Glenn Maxwell. He added that the batting also lacks experience, with Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh having played only a few or no games in the IPL.
"That makes it your 12 overs" - Aakash Chopra on the Punjab Kings' trio of Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal
![The Punjab Kings bought Marco Jansen (right) for ₹7 crore at the auction. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/e59e4-17329439236577-1920.jpg?w=500)
Reflecting on the Punjab Kings' bowling, Aakash Chopra urged the franchise to play Marco Jansen alongside Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.
"How are their bowlers? They have the option of Marco Jansen, who I feel they should play because he also provides batting. Then Arshdeep Singh and Yuzi Chahal, that makes it your 12 overs. They can get at least four overs between Stoinis and Maxwell as well, and then they have got Lockie Ferguson," he said in the same video.
The renowned commentator opined that PBKS should play Lockie Ferguson as a second overseas seamer.
"I want you to play Lockie Ferguson. However, if you don't play him, you will get the option to open with Josh Inglis, or else Ferguson, Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh will be your three fast bowlers, Yuzi Chahal and Harpreet Brar your two spinners, and then you have Stoinis and Maxwell. So you have covered a lot of bases," Chopra observed.
Chopra pointed out that the Punjab Kings have decent Indian seam-bowling options in Kuldeep Sen, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Yash Thakur if they play Josh Inglis ahead of Ferguson as their fourth overseas player.
He added that the franchise also has like-for-like replacements in the overseas contingent, considering the presence of Azmatullah Omarzai and Aaron Hardie as all-rounders and Xavier Bartlett as a seamer in their squad.