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Xtra Time Web Desk: In a setback for the Punjab Kings ahead of their IPL 2024 face-off against the Mumbai Indians on Thursday, April 18, team captain Shikhar Dhawan finds himself sidelined due to a shoulder injury sustained during their recent match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Currently undergoing rehabilitation, Dhawan's absence forced the Punjab to rely on English all-rounder Sam Curran, who took over the captaincy in his stead during the subsequent match against the Rajasthan Royals. However, the news takes a graver turn for Punjab enthusiasts as Dhawan's recovery timeline suggests he may miss not only the crucial encounter against Mumbai Indians but also the impending match against the Gujarat Titans scheduled for April 21.

Shikhar Dhawan to miss match against Mumbai Indians:

On the eve of the match, Punjab spin-bowling coach Sunil Joshi came up with a huge update on Dhawan's injury. In the pre-match press conference, he said: “Regarding Shikhar, the medical team will update. As for now, he is under rehab.”

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Despite leading the run-scoring charts for the Punjab with 152 runs in five innings, Dhawan's IPL 2024 season has been less than stellar. With a strike rate of 125.61, questions arise about his ability to accelerate the team's scoring. Sunil Joshi, has expressed concerns regarding the team's top-order form, stressing the urgency for batsmen to rediscover their rhythm to bolster the team's performance. Punjab currently languishes in seventh place with just two wins and four losses, highlighting the pressing need for improvement.

On a brighter note, Punjab has found solace in the consistent contributions of lower-order batsmen Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma. These 'unsung heroes' have repeatedly risen to the occasion, mitigating the struggles encountered by the top order. Their resilience offers a glimmer of hope amidst the team's challenges in the ongoing IPL campaign.

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“See it’s always like bowlers win tournaments, batsmen win matches. And our bowling unit is definitely doing well consistently in all the areas. It’s time our batters take responsibility,” Joshi further said. “We have addressed the areas where we needed to look at, to score runs. And also coming into this wicket, it’s a challenge for batters also. Straightaway, unlike other wickets in India, this is a challenging wicket for every batter, especially for the visitors, it’s going to be a challenge because the nature of bounce is completely different. So, it’s advantage for us, I guess,” he added.