IPL 2023: 'We don't have a good off-spinner' - Shikhar Dhawan on PBKS' defeat against KKR at Eden Gardens

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IPL 2023: Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shikhar Dhawan has rued lack of good off-spinners in the squad as one of the reasons for his team's defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens on Monday.

Defending 180 runs, Punjab lost the last-ball thriller despite the best of efforts from Arshdeep Singh who conceded just four runs on the first five balls while defending six in the final over.

On being asked about continuously leaking heavy runs against their oppositions in the IPL 2023, the 37-year-old said that absence of a quality off-spinner was making it difficult for PBKS to contain run flow against left-handers.

"Feels bad, of course not feeling great. Not an easy track to bat on, in the end they played well. It was a great effort from Arshdeep, the way he has bounced back from the last game.

All credit to him that he took the game to the last ball," Dhawan told broadcaster after the match."I feel that we don't have a good off-spinner. When left-handers come, from one end we have a leg-spinner and at the other end we have a left-arm spinner."

"So that's where I feel we are leaking a bit of runs. This wicket was offering turn as well so I feel that's where we took the hit," he added.

PBKS used three spinners against KKR in the match. While Rahul Chahar and Liam Livingstone are leg-spinners, Harpreet Brar is a left-arm spinner. Sikandar Raza, who is an off-spinner, did not feature in the match.

Seventh-placed Punjab will next face Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday before facing the same side on May 17. They play their last league match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 19.