IPL 2022: We are going to play real hard and tough cricket – Punjab Kings captain Mayank Agarwal

Punjab Kings captain Mayank Agarwal has thrown a gauntlet to other teams before the start of the 15th season of the Indian Premier League.

Agarwal, who will lead in the IPL for the first time, has revealed that they are going to play real hard and tough cricket in the forthcoming edition of the lucrative IPL.

Agarwal will take over the captaincy baton of the franchise from his good friend, KL Rahul, who will now be seen leading Lucknow Super Giants. The Karnataka batter will look to lead from the front and get the best out of the players.

Mayank Agarwal had scored 441 runs in 12 matches for the Punjab side in IPL 2021 at an average of 40.09 and a strike rate of 140.44. The right-hander has amassed 2135 runs in 100 IPL matches at an average of 23.46 and a strike rate of 135.73.

Meanwhile, like other teams, Punjab Kings have also started their preparations for the upcoming season in nets sessions.

In a video uploaded by Punjab Kings social media team, Agarwal said, “Thank you everyone for the welcome. I just want to put things into perspective here. Let’s start and get things going as soon as possible and as fast as possible. We want all the guys to be match ready, and we want to see some attitude. It’s going to be a high intensity tournament, and while we are on the field, we mean business, pure business. It’s going to be hardcore training. We are going to play real hard and tough cricket.”

Punjab Kings couldn’t qualify for the playoff stages in the previous season and they will look to turn the tables in IPL 2022 with a new squad. The Mohali-based franchise had earlier retained Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep Singh before the IPL auction.

Punjab Kings will begin their IPL campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai on 27th March.

PBKS Squad: Batters: Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Prerak Mankad, Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Wicketkeepers: Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma

Allrounders: Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Singh, Ansh Patel, Atharva Taide, Benny Howell.

Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Ishan Porel, Rahul Chahar, Vaibhav Arora, Nathan Ellis.