NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings assistant coach Brad Haddin provided updates on key player and captain Shikhar Dhawan's injury and discussed the team's strategy in a press conference ahead of their IPL encounter against Gujarat Titans.
Addressing concerns about Dhawan's fitness, Haddin stated, "It's difficult to replace someone like Shikhar. He's one of the most successful openers in the IPL. He has done it for many years and was starting to get his rhythm back before the unfortunate injury to his shoulder."
IPL 2024: POINTS TABLE | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAP
He added, "We would like him back as soon as we can. He is an experienced head at the top of the order, so we're hoping that he is available for selection soon."
Highlighting the team's performance, Haddin commended the bowlers, especially the seamers, saying, "Our fast bowlers have the most wickets in IPL 2024. If we could find the runs, our spinners and pacers could find some much-needed support."
Acknowledging the challenge posed by Gujarat Titans, Haddin emphasized the need for Punjab Kings to convert close matches into wins, stating, "We have got to find a way to get a result in this game. The last three games were very close."
He further expressed confidence in the team's batsmen, including Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank Singh, saying, "The way they have been performing, we want to give them more time on the pitch."
Regarding Dhawan's recovery progress, Haddin shared, "He has started to progress well. We have seen some good signs over the last couple of days. We will decide on Sunday morning."
Punjab Kings are gearing up to face Gujarat Titans on Sunday in what promises to be an exciting IPL clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
(With inputs from ANI)
