IPL: Why Stuart Broad never featured for Punjab Kings despite landing a contract in 2011?

Stuart Broad. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Stuart Broad, widely regarded as one of England’s most exceptional pace bowlers in history, has officially announced his retirement after the conclusion of the fifth and final Ashes Test against arch-rivals Australia. A stalwart with a staggering record, the right-arm pacer boasts an impressive tally of over 840 international wickets to his illustrious name.

Though his last appearance in a white-ball game for England dates back to 2016, he has been a steadfast presence in the prestigious Test cricket arena. Testament to his unwavering dedication to the most extended format of the game is his remarkable achievement of securing 604 Test wickets, placing him second only to the legendary James Anderson among England’s leading Test wicket-takers.

Interestingly, despite his association with the Indian Premier League (IPL), Stuart Broad never got the chance to play in IPL. Few may recall that he was once a part of the Kings XI Punjab, now renamed Punjab Kings, having been acquired for a noteworthy sum of USD 400,000.

Unfortunately, a side strain he suffered during the World Cup compelled him to withdraw from the tournament, robbing him of the opportunity to play in the IPL.

Following his injury, the Punjab franchise opted to retain Broad the following year, yet he was again plagued by a different injury, ruling him out of the IPL. Consequently, he missed the chance to secure another IPL deal.

On the last of the final Ashes Test, England unleashed havoc during the final session, securing a triumphant victory over Australia by a margin of 49 runs. This defeat dealt a blow to the tourists’ hopes of clinching a series triumph on English soil, a feat they had not achieved since 2001.

A key figure in the Ben Stokes-led squad’s success was none other than Broad, whose farewell Test performance proved pivotal. He demonstrated his prowess by claiming the last two crucial wickets in the second innings, dismissing Todd Murphy and Alex Carey, and effectively bowling Australia out for 334 in their ambitious pursuit of a 384-run target.

As the 2023 Ashes series concludes, Broad emerged as the second-highest wicket-taker, a testament to his exceptional bowling abilities. His tally of 22 wickets came at an impressive average of 28.40, coupled with an economy rate of 3.39.

A striking fact to note is that out of his remarkable haul of 604 Test wickets, an astounding 153 were claimed against Australia—this accolade crowned him as the bowler with the most wickets against the formidable Kangaroos. However, it is worth mentioning that Broad’s white-ball statistics are less awe-inspiring, with a tally of only 178 ODI and 65 T20I wickets to his name.