(Cricket news) The 2nd phase of the 2021 IPL is about to start and PBKS are 6th on the points table with 6 matches left to play. Their 1st game back is against RR on 21st September.

Captain KL Rahul is once again leading from the front having scored 331 runs in 7 innings. There has been adequate support from opening partner Mayank Agarwal but after that it goes downhill. No other batsman has made significant runs with the willow which explains their position on the table. Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh have led the bowling department which hasn't done particularly well.

PBKS in 13 seasons have qualified for the playoffs only twice. The structure of the team keeps on changing again and again with new coaches and new captains which isn't healthy. Two of the most successful teams are Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings and long term captains is one thing they both have in common. PBKS are still in the contest but they need their middle order to step up.

Also read: Can Royal Challengers Bangalore finally bring the trophy home this season?

The two West Indians Nicholas Pooran and Chris Gayle will have a huge role to play. There have been talks about Chris Gayle opening the innings which might not be the worst thing in the world as Gayle is far more comfortable at the top of the order considering he needs a few balls to get into his rhythm. Aiden Markram could be a wildcard as he is in a hot run of form in T20Is. Adil Rashid could be Useful bowler in the UAE conditions. His ability to bowl with the hard new ball will come in very handy.

Pacers Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson have pulled out of the 2nd phase of the tournament. PBKS have signed English leggie Adil Rashid and Australian pacer Nathan Ellis as replacements. ICC's no.1 T20I batsman David Malan has also pulled out of the tournament and Aiden Markram has been named as a replacement.

Here is the full PBKS Squad

KL Rahul (Captain), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Prabhsimran Singh, Mohammed Shami, Chris Jordan, Darshan Nalkande, Ravi Bishnoi, Murugan Ashwin, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Ishan Porel, Moises Henriques, Shahrukh Khan, Pratyush Singh, Jalaj Saxena, Nathan Ellis, Adil Rashid, Aiden Markram