Mayank Agarwal has been a dominant batting option for the Punjab Kings and has played many vital knocks to guide them to victory in several decisive matches. Mayank has been impressive for the Kings since 2019, proving to be one of the most technically sorted players after then-skipper KL Rahul.
Mayank has even shown great flexibility by batting in all positions for the Kings; the opening batsman has also batted at No. 3, No. 4, and sometimes even further down the order. Mayank had previously explored most of his options down the order while playing for RCB and the Daredevils.
Let’s think about the expected ways the PBKS can use Mayank Agarwal if he is brought back by the Punjab Kings in the upcoming edition of the IPL in 2023.
3. Opening Batsman
The ex-Kings captain and new-generation Indian test batsman, Mayank Agarwal, has been a player of class and magnificence and has especially proven to be on the next level in putting together some great opening stands for the Indian test side.
A player of sublime class, Mayank Agarwal is a complete cricketer, comprising both copybook cricket shots and unorthodox shots played all around the park.
With newly appointed skipper Shikhar Dhawan at the helm, PBKS will be looking for a batting partner who can help guide the innings. In the absence of the aggressive English opener Jonny Bairstow, PBKS would be even more desperate to find an opener who can communicate effectively on the field with Dhawan.
Mayank Agarwal is worthy of being called back to the king’s side, and after his captaincy role is taken away, he would strongly consider coming back after his drop from the franchise.
2. At Number 3
The newly announced skipper has been a sublime opener for SRH, the Capitals, as well as the Punjab Kings. The return of Bairstow would make a formidable opening pair for the PBKS. However, in such a case, PBKS would lack a proper batter at No. 3; the Kings’ middle order is power-packed with Sri Lankan power-hitting third baseman Bhanuka Rajapaksa, English finisher Liam Livingstone, and highly touted Indian hitter Shahrukh Khan.
Among all these big hitters of the cricket ball, the Kings require someone who can provide formidability to the Kings middle order, and Mayank is the best in the business who can bat with a strike rate above 130 in the middle overs.
1. At Number 4
The return of Bairstow from injury would provide the Punjab kings with a permanent opening. Though Rajapaksa is a middle-order batsman, he has shown great prominence and aggressive intent batting at No. 3 for the Punjab Kings.
Sighting Rajapaksa’s form at No. 3 and other players like Livingstone, S. Khan, and Jitesh Sharma coming down the order at Nos. 5, 6, and 7, In such a case, Mayank can be brought to the side to represent the King’s middle order. Mayank Agarwal is a cult classic player of timing and orthodox cricketing shots, which provides him with the flexibility to bat in all positions.
As a result of his incredible flexibility, Mayank can be brought in to bat in a variety of positions throughout the game, one who can keep the scoreboard ticking while also rolling up his sleeves for some nasty blows near the end of the innings.
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