Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan sat out from the team’s clash with Rajasthan Royals on Saturday evening due to a niggle and the franchise handed over the reins to allrounder Sam Curran. However, the move created confusion considering Jitesh Sharma had attended a pre-season captain’s photoshoot last month filling in for Dhawan which gave an impression that the wicketkeeper-batter is the team’s vice-captain.
However, with Curran walking out for the toss, the decision led to users on social media questioning PBKS the reason why Jitesh wasn’t made the captain in Dhawan’s absence.
PBKS head coach Sanjay Bangar has clarified the confusion revealing Curran was their designated vice-captain and not Jitesh.
“Jitesh wasn’t the designated vice-captain. The impression could have been because he attended the captain’s seminar or meeting at the start of the tournament. The thought was always that (Curran being the vice-captain) since Sam had led the team last year as well” Bangar told reporters after PBKS suffered a close defeat to RR.
Then why Jitesh and not Curran went for the pre-season photoshoot?
“He (Curran) was late to arrive from the UK and wanted to have a few sessions, which is why we couldn’t send him to Chennai for the inauguration of the season. Hence, Jitesh was sent because the directive from an IPL member was that a player must attend, but it was never in mind that he would be the vice-captain. But we were very clear in our minds that of at all there would be an opening it would be Sam to lead the team,” Bangar said.
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It was a mixed outing for Curran as he managed just six runs with the bat but then led a spirited defense of 148 against RR, returning bowling figures of 2/25 from four overs. However, despite PBKS bowlers’ putting up a strong fight, RR managed to overhaul the target with a delivery to spare.
The defeat was PBKS’ fourth of the season and they will next take on Mumbai Indians on Thursday.
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