IPL 2020: Match 2, Delhi Capitals vs Kings XI Punjab - KXIP Predicted Playing XI

The second match of the Indian Premier League 2020 is going to see a fight between Shreyas Iyer led Delhi Capitals, and KL Rahul led Kings XI Punjab in Dubai on September 20. While both the teams are led by youngsters of modern cricket, it will be a thing to watch as who takes away the glory. While it will be the maiden attempt of KL Rahul at captaincy, Iyer has some experience of leading the team from the front.

Now talking about both the teams as per records, the Kings XI haven’t made to the playoffs even once after 2014. They lost the title to Kolkata Knight Riders in the finals of IPL 2014. Owing to some decent performance in 2019, the Delhi squad did make it to the top four of the table. Moving ahead in the same line, let’s look at the probable playing XI from the Kings XI Punjab’s side.

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

Openers (KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal)

While leading the team with confidence, the skipper KL Rahul is definitely expected to open up the order for his squad. Having scored 593 runs at an average of 53.90 in the last season’s IPL, he was only behind David Warner, who got the Orange cap ultimately. He will try to maintain the same class this year.

Mayank Agarwal, who batted in the middle order for Punjab last year, is expected to open up the innings with skipper this time. Having scored 300 plus runs with a strike-rate of 141.88 in IPL 2019, he can be trusted with Rahul to maintain the balance.

Middle Order (Nicholas Pooran, Sarfaraz Khan and Mandeep Singh)

Though the young Caribbean player featured only in 7 matches for his squad last year, he scored 168 runs from his bat. Seeing his great form in the recently concluded CPL, he is expected to lead the middle order for the Punjab squad in IPL 2020.

The young batsman Sarfaraz Khan most likely would pair up with batsmen in the middle order to provide the base to his team. In last year’s IPL, despite playing eight matches, he managed 180 runs from his bat at an average of 45.00. He has the potential to give his team a good balance.

After plying his trade for RCB for three years, Mandeep Singh made comeback to Punjab only the last year. Having produced 165 runs in 13 matches at the strike-rate of 137.50 in IPL 2019, Singh can perform a good role for the team while handling the middle order.

All-rounders (Glenn Maxwell, Krishnappa Gowtham)

If KXIP got through the finals of IPL 2014, it was Glenn Maxwell who had a thunderous journey that year and helped the team to push the limits. Having capacities with both bat and ball, the Australian can really be seen in the playing XI of KXIP.

The Indian all-rounder only made his debut in IPL two years back and can provide the balance to his squad with bat and ball equally.  However, playing seven matches in the IPL 2019, he was neither impressive with willow nor in the pace section. He might find a place in playing XI of the Punjab squad.

Bowlers (Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, and Sheldon Cottrell)

There can be no better name than Indian pace sensation Mohammed Shami to lead the bowling attack of the team. Having scalped 19 wickets in 14 matches in IPL 2019, Shami can definitely be trusted to show up in the playing XI of the Punjab squad for tomorrow’s match.

Ravi Bishnoi is all expected to make his maiden appearance ahead of IPL 2020 with the Punjab squad. The 20-year leg spinner has some glorious records to his credit in domestic cricket and seeing all his potentials, he is expected to form part of the playing XI. He will be one of the debutants to watch out for this season.

Seeing the pitch conditions of UAE, which will favour spinners most likely, the star, Afghani spinner might definitely find a place in playing XI of IPL 2020. Having played 16 matches so far in the IPL, he has 17 scalps to his credit at an economy of 7.96. Though Cottrell’s form might not have been impressive in this year’s CPL, he may get a chance to be part of the playing XI of Punjab. Even he is set to make a debut in this year’s IPL season.