PBKS vs KKR: Why is Kagiso Rabada Not Playing Today's IPL 2023 Match? Check PBKS Playing 11

In a crucial news development, Punjab Kings (PBKS) premier pace bowler Kagiso Rabada will be unavailable for their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2023) against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) being hosted at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. Things have not worked out in an ideal manner for the Punjab Kings during the last few editions of the Indian Premier League as they have not qualified for the playoffs for a long while now. The Punjab Kings finished at the sixth spot on the points table during IPL 2022.

PBKS vs KKR: Why is Kagiso Rabada Not Playing Today’s IPL 2023 Match?

It will be a huge setback for the Punjab Kings as their premier overseas speedster Kagiso Rabada will not be playing their first match of IPL 2023 against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday. The right-arm fast bowler is currently part of the ongoing South Africa vs Netherlands ODI series and will only be available in IPL 2023 after 2 April, 2023. In his first season for the Punjab Kings during IPL 2022, Rabada ended up taking as many as 23 wickets from 13 matches at an economy of less than 9 that included a couple of four-wicket hauls as well. However, Punjab Kings will have the service of right-arm pacer Nathan Ellis as an overseas player in the absence of Kagiso Rabada.

PBKS Playing 11

1. Shikhar Dhawan (C)
2. Prabhsimran Singh
3. Bhanuka Rajapaksa
4. Sikandar Raza
5. Shahrukh Khan
6. Jitesh Sharma
7. Sam Curran
8. Harpreet Brar
9. Nathan Ellis
10. Rahul Chahar
11. Arshdeep Singh

Punjab Kings 2023 Squad

Player Name	Role	Price
Arshdeep Singh	Bowler	4 Crore
Shikhar Dhawan (c)	Batter	8.25 crore
Kagiso Rabada	Bowler	9.25 crore
Matthew Short	All-Rounder	20 lakhs
Shahrukh Khan	All-Rounder	9 crore
Harpreet Brar	Batter	3.8 crore
Prabhsimran Singh	Batter/Wicket-keeper	60 lakh
Jitesh Sharma	Batter/Wicket-keeper	20 lakh
Rahul Chahar	Bowler	5.25 crore
Liam Livingstone	All-Rounder	11.5 crore
Raj Bawa	Batter	2 crore
Rishi Dhawan	All-Rounder	55 lakh
Baltej Dhanda	All-Rounder	20 lakh
Nathan Ellis	Bowler	75 lakh
Atharva Taide	All-Rounder	20 lakh
Bhanuka Rajapaksa	Batter	50 lakh
Sam Curran	All-Rounder	18.5 crore
Sikandar Raza	All-Rounder	50 lakh
Harpreet Bhatia	Batter	40 lakh
Vidwath Kaverappa	Bowler	20 lakh
Mohit Rathe	All-Rounder	20 lakh
Shivam Singh	All-Rounder	20 lakh