Mayank Agarwal has been unveiled as the new captain of the Punjab Kings, just under a month after the start of the 2022 edition of the IPL on March 26.
“I have been at the Punjab Kings since 2018 and I am very proud to represent this fantastic unit. I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the team,” said Agarwal, one of the two players retained by the franchise before the latest mega auction – middle pace Arshdeep Singh was the other – said in a statement released by the Kings on Monday morning. “I take this responsibility with the utmost sincerity but at the same time I think my job would be made easier by the talent we have in the Punjab Kings squad this season.
“We have very experienced players in our ranks, as well as many talented youngsters who want to seize the opportunity and run with it. We have always taken to the field in the hope of winning the title and as a team we will work again for this goal of lifting our first IPL trophy. I thank the management of the team for entrusting me with this new role of team leader. I look forward to the new season and the new challenges that it will bring. bring.”
Agarwal, who played for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Rising Pune Supergiant and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the past, joined the Punjab franchise in 2018 when it was still called Kings XI Punjab. After a slow start—he scored 120 runs at 127.65 batting rate over 11 innings in his first season—he was one of the team’s best hitters. His 332 runs in 2019 came at a strike rate of 141.88, and as he forged a solid opening pair with KL Rahul, the captain until last season, Agarwal scored 424 runs (SR 156, 45) and 441 points (SR 140.44) in 2020 and 2021. respectively.
Overall, in 11 seasons playing in the IPL, Agarwal has 2131 carries at an average of 23.41 and a strike rate of 135.47.
“Mayank has been an integral part of the team since 2018 and the management group for two years,” Kings head coach Anil Kumble said. “The new team we have selected in the recently concluded auction has exciting young talent and exceptional experienced players. We want to create a solid foundation for the future with Mayank at the helm.
“He is hardworking, enthusiastic, a team player with all the attributes required of a leader. I look forward to working with him as captain and believe he will lead this team to a successful campaign.”
Although he has had a good run in the IPL over the years, Agarwal has yet to earn his Indian cap in T20I. He was called up to the squad for the ongoing home series against Sri Lanka but only as an injury replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad. Considered a long-format player by national coaches, Agarwal has played 19 Tests (1429 runs at an average of 43.30) and five ODIs (86 runs at 17.20) so far.
In the IPL 2022, although he doesn’t have Rahul, his friend and colleague from Karnataka for many years, to work with. Rahul has captained the Punjab franchise for the past two seasons but was acquired before the last auction by new franchise Lucknow Super Giants, who also named him captain. His price tag of INR 17 crore (about US$2.28 million) has made him the highest paid player in the IPL over the seasons, along with Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bangalore. Kohli was signed for the same amount by Royal Challengers in 2018, ahead of the last IPL mega auction.
Agarwal, however, has a powerful unit at his disposal. In the recent auction, Kings splashed the big bucks on Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada, Shahrukh Khan and Shikhar Dhawan who is expected to be Agarwal’s opening partner. They also have players like Jonny Bairstow and Odean Smith among foreign players, and locals like Rahul Chahar, Rishi Dhawan and Harpreet Brar, apart from Arshdeep.
The Kings have been stacked with Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers and Gujarat Titans in Group B at the upcoming IPL.
