Carrying two different playing eleven sheets for the coin toss has caused confusion among captains in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shikhar Dhawan became the latest victim as he forgot the fourth overseas player in the playing eleven.
After losing the toss, Dhawan was able to name three overseas players -- Sam Curran, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Nathan Ellis -- but forgot Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza's name.
"We would have fielded first. We have got a balanced side, so hopefully, we will do good. The team preparation has been good and we will look to dominate the game, hoping for a great season ahead. We are eager to win the trophy and I am looking to lead from the front. My overseas players are - Bhanuka, Nathan Ellis, and Sam Curran, don't remember the fourth name," Dhawan said after losing the toss.
Nitish Rana who was making his IPL captaincy debut in the absence of Shreyas Iyer was able to name his four overseas players -- Andre Russell Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Tim Southee -- could not name all eleven players in the team.
“We will bowl first, it has rained in the last two days so there would be some moisture. I am excited because very few people get this opportunity. It is a game of cricket afterall so there is not much pressure. The impact player rule is in its initial stage. We have to see that the decisions we take prove to be right. Russell, Narine, Gurbaz and Southee are our overseas players,” Rana said after winning the toss.
PBKS Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma(w), Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Nathan Ellis, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Subs: Rishi Dhawan, Taide, Matt Short, Bhatia and Rathee
KKR Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Mandeep Singh, Nitish Rana(c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
Subs: Suyash, Arora, Jagadeesan, Venkatesh Iyer and Wiese
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