PBKS on Jitesh Sharma-Sam Curran Row: “Never mind that he would be vice-captain”

The controversy over the captaincy of the Punjab Kings, during their match against Rajasthan, upset many fans and resulted in criticism on social media. The acting captain, Jitesh, clarified that his presence in the captain’s photoshoot was due to Sam Curran’s delayed arrival from the United Kingdom.

He explained that Sam Curran’s late arrival was because he had led the team last year and required extra sessions before joining the team in Chennai for the start of the season. Jitesh was sent to the photoshoot based on a directive from an IPL member, but it was never intended for him to be the vice-captain.

The team management had always planned for Sam to lead the team in case of any opening. After the match, the stand-in captain, Curran, expressed disappointment over the loss but praised the team’s effort, especially the lower order’s performance.

He expressed confidence that the team would bounce back in the next game and acknowledged the challenges of adapting to new conditions at the venue. Despite the close margins of the losses in the last two matches, he believed that the team could take encouragement from their recent performances.