IPL 2024: Punjab Kings appoint Jitesh Sharma vice-captain ahead of the tournament

Punjab Kings’ Jitesh Sharma smashed 309 runs in 14 matches in the IPL 2023.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) announced their new vice-captain ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament. The wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma will serve as the deputy to Shikhar Dhawan for the 2024 season. The news was confirmed during the captain’s photoshoot on Thursday, March 21.

The 30-year-old Jitesh joined the Punjab-based franchise during the IPL 2022 mega-auction and was quickly established as the first-choice wicket-keeper for the PBKS. The right-handed batter enjoyed a breakout season in IPL 2023 where he scored 309 runs in 14 matches at an impressive strike rate of 156.06.

During the captain’s conclave event before IPL 2024 opener in Chennai, all ten captains of the tournament posed with the trophy, where PBKS’ captain Shikhar Dhawan was missing. The newly confirmed vice-captain of Punjab Kings was there at the event in stead of Dhawan. Explaining the same, IPL through its official X (formerly Twitter) handle stated “Presenting the 9 captains with PBKS being represented by vice-captain Jitesh Sharma.”

𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞!The #TATAIPL is here and WE are ready to ROCK & ROLL 🎉🥳🥁Presenting the 9 captains with PBKS being represented by vice-captain Jitesh Sharma. pic.twitter.com/v3fyo95cWI

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 21, 2024

During the event, it was also confirmed that CSK have named Ruturaj Gaikwad as their captain for IPL 2024, replacing the five-time IPL-winning captain MS Dhoni.

PBKS will play a total of four matches in the first-phase of the IPL 2024 edition with one home and three away games. Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab will kick off their IPL 2024 campaign against the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Mohali on March 23.

PBKS will then take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 25. Their next fixture will be against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on March 30. PBKS will play against last year’s runners-up Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on April 4.

How Punjab Kings performed in IPL 2023 season?

In IPL 2023 edition PBKS had a horrible run as they end the tournament at eighth spot. The Kings played in 14 league games, emerging victorious in six while suffering defeat in eight matches and finished with 12 points.

Veteran batter Shikhar Dhawan was their top run-scorer with amassing 373 runs in 11 matches, while left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh led the bowling unit with 17 wickets in 14 games.

Punjab Kings updated squad for IPL 2024

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jitesh Sharma (vc & wk), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Shivam Singh, Harpreet Bhatia, Vidwath Kaverappa, Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Shashank Singh, Prince Choudhary, Tanay Thyagarajan, Rilee Rossouw.

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