IPL 2019 – Match 28: Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – KXIP Predicted Playing XI

Losing against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in their last game would have been quite heartbreaking for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). The team did everything right for the most part of the game. However, there is nothing one can do when Kieron Pollard gets going. He is usually unstoppable and has won the game single-handedly for his team.

The Punjab team ran out of luck in the final over and failed to get over the line. But for their next game, they will be back to their fortress in Mohali. The team has won seven games in a row at this venue and will be high on confidence when they take the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on. There are a few injuries scares for the home team which might prompt a few forced changes.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP):

Openers (KL Rahul (wk), Sam Curran)

KL Rahul has been unbelievably consistent in the last few matches. He is having a dream run and we’re all enjoying watching him play that way. The wicket-keeper has got a good record while playing in Mohali. He usually starts slowly at this venue and then catches up later. The same approach will be ideal for the next game as well as Chris Gayle is possibly ruled out due to a twisted back.

In the absence of the Universe Boss, Sam Curran is likely to get back to open the innings. The last time he got this opportunity, he took the team off to a great start. However, Curran hasn’t played a long inning as yet and will look to inflict the damage on the opposition by batting for a tad longer.

Middle Order (Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, Mandeep Singh)

Mayank Agarwal missed out the last game due to niggle but is likely to come back for this game. He will be replacing his Karnataka teammate Karun Nair in the eleven. Sarfaraz Khan has been used depending on the situation of the game. He hasn’t got a chance to bat in the death overs but has done a good job whenever he was sent in at four.

The youngster hasn’t got a chance to bat in the last two games and will be eager for his opportunity. David Miller has been highly disappointing. He failed to finish the games for his team and is getting out in unusual ways. The South African needs to calculate the risks before he decides to go big. Mandeep Singh has fit into the role of a finisher really well and is doing a fair job.

All Rounders (Moises Henriques)

Moises Henriques could make his debut for KXIP in the upcoming match. The Australian all-rounder, after being out of action for a while, did a good job in the BBL 2018-19. Even though he is not at his complete best as yet, he would be slowly getting there. He has got good bowling variations and can smash the ball into the orbits as well.

Bowlers (Ravichandran Ashwin (c), Mohammed Shami, Murugan Ashwin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman)

At the moment, it is tough to give Ravichandran Ashwin the off-spinner tag. He has been bowling almost everything with strange bowling actions. That has somewhat worked for him thus far and he will look to continue with these new variations. Mohammed Shami will continue in the eleven and has done a fabulous job in the last match despite the other bowlers going for a lot of runs.

The Mohali pitch assists spin and the boundaries are long. Thus, Murugan Ashwin and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are likely to be back. While Hardus Viljoen will be benched, Ankit Rajpoot has injured his finger in the last game and that could keep him out of the action.

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