IPL 2020: Predicted Playing XI of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)

Kings XI Punjab lavishly spend a big amount in the IPL 2020 auction held in Kolkata on 19th of December. They had already released their main players like David Miller, Andrew Tye, Sam Curran at the end of the trade window. Moreover, they also traded their previous season skipper to Delhi Capitals. So, it was expected that they will go all-in to get their first choice players in the auction. Moreover, they were having the most amount in their purse in comparison to its rival franchises.

With Anil Kumble taking the charge of KXIP, they bought a total of nine players in IPL 2020 auction. In a surprising decision from the think tank, they also picked their former player Glenn Maxwell after splashing a whopping amount of 10.65 Crore.

However, they didn’t stop there and went for another eight players: Prabhsimran Singh (Rs 55 lakh), Chris Jordan (Rs 3 cr), Tajinder Dhillon (Rs 20 lakh), James Neesham (Rs 50 lakh), Deepak Hooda (Rs 50 lakh), Ishan Porel (Rs 20 lakh), Ravi Bishnoi (Rs 2 cr), and Sheldon Cottrell (Rs 8.5 cr). After buying nine players in the auction, they are still left with Rs 16.50 crores INR.

Let’s see how KXIP playing XI will look after they added new players in their ranks:

1. KL Rahul

The Karnataka batsman was bought by Kings XI Punjab in 2018 at a whopping fee of 11 Cr. He has played 28 games since arrival and smashed 1252 runs with 12 half-centuries and one ton. After the departure of Ravichandran Ashwin, now he has been given the opportunity to lead KXIP in the upcoming season of IPL. He will be one of the openers for the Punjab-based franchise.

Rahul, as an opener has proved his worth for whichever franchise he has played for in the biggest T20 league. In the last two seasons, he has helped KXIP in the critical situations of the match and put them on the driver’s seat. When the Indian batsman is in full flow then it is quite difficult to stop him. In the last three to four years, he has gone through some major transformation in his game and now he has established his name as one of the biggest match-winners.

In the last couple of seasons, Kings XI Punjab missed many big opportunities under the leadership of Ravichandran Ashwin to qualify for the playoffs. However, now Rahul under his captaincy will look to bolster all the chances to help his side in clinching their maiden IPL title.

2. Chris Gayle

Gayle will be another opener for Kings XI Punjab in the upcoming season and he is an obvious choice. This could be the last season for the 40-year-old  Carrebiean batsman in IPL and he will be eager to bid adieu by ending his stint on a high note. There is no doubt over Chris Gayle, who is arguably the best opener in the world when it comes the shorter format of the game.

He was bought by KXIP at a bargain price of Rs 2 Cr in 2018 auction in the third round. It looked like a gamble that the think tank played by roping Gayle but it has been one of the wisest decisions taken by KXIP.

As an opener, he has muscled 858 runs in his 24 appearances for the Punjab based franchise. Moreover, his form will play a major role if Kings are planning to shot down their maiden IPL trophy in the upcoming season.

3. Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal has certainly emerged as one of the exciting talents in India. He is not a T20 specialist batsman but his hitting ability cannot be ignored. He will come out to bat at number three for KXIP as the Karnataka batsman has plundered some good runs for Team India and his state team.

IPL 2019 season turned out to be his best season until now and he muscled 332 runs in 13 games with two half-centuries at a tournament strike rate of 141.88. Agarwal is capable of scoring runs in a consistent fashion and can play the role of a sheet anchor in the batting line-up.

Moreover, he can change his gear according to the conditions of the match. All the pressure will be on his shoulder if the openers fail to perform but it will also offer him the opportunity to show his class with the bat and plunder some big knocks in the upcoming tournament.

4. Nicholas Pooran

The middle-order batsman from West Indies has certainly etched his name as one of the prolific T20 batsmen across the globe. He has been playing for several teams in different T20 leagues and has established himself as one of the players, who can change the game with their clean hitting in the shorter format.

In 2019, KXIP bought him but couldn’t offer him with ample of opportunities to show his talent due to the restrictions of playing four overseas players. In seven IPL games, Pooran plundered 168 runs with a best of 48 at a strike rate of 157.  He will be a perfect player to play at number four position for Kings

And, this season after the departure of David Miller, Andrew Tye and Sam Curran, he will be one of the obvious picks for the Kings, who will get to play in the majority of the games.

Pooran also brings an extra option of wicket-keeping. In that case, there are chances that the team management might look to lower down the burden of Rahul, who has been keeping behind the stumps for KXIP in the last couple of seasons and can ask the young Carrebiean player to hold the gloves for them in IPL 2020.

5.Glenn Maxwell

KXIP roped in their former player Glenn Maxwell for the upcoming season. The franchise has again shown their faith on the Aussie all-rounder and splashed a whopping amount of 10.65 Cr. in IPL auction 2020 to get him back. Since his arrival, he has proved himself as one of the best hitters of the game in the tournament.

Maxwell will be one of the players for Punjab, who can turn the game from any point of the match. His extraordinary hitting talent is not hidden from anyone and will be the main man for Kings in the middle-order alongside Pooran. So, far in IPL, he has mustered 1397 runs in 69 games at a commendable strike rate of 161.13.

If he gets going from the middle-order, then Punjab can win the matches with ease. On many occasions, Maxwell has single-handedly won the games for KXIP irrespective of the opponents.

6. Deepak Hooda

The young lad from Baroda was bought by KXIP at his base price of 55 Lakhs in IPL 2020 auction. He can prove to be a utility all-rounder, who can bowl a few overs and can well bat in the crunch situations. Moreover, he is a brilliant fielder which is an added plus for him.

In the previous season, he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad but due to his lack of consistency with the bat and bowl, he was released by the franchise in November. However, he is expected to come up with some strong performances in IPL 2020. Hooda has played 116 T20s and amassed 1617 runs with one ton and seven half-centuries with 16 wickets.

7. Krishnappa Gowtham

Gowtham did convincingly well in the domestic circuit this season for Karnataka. In Vijay Hazare Trophy 2019, he played 11 games and grabbed 15 wickets for his team. Moreover, he can come handy with the bat and can play the role of a good all-rounder efficiently.

In past seasons, KXIP has struggled to get a good all-rounder in their side and this season, they have put their bets on Gowtham, who is good in bowling and can hit the ball all across the park in a decent fashion. In the previous season, he played for Rajasthan Royals and took nine wickets in seven games.

However, an improved performance would be expected from him under the mentorship of Anil Kumble, who was recently appointed as the operation head of Kings XI Punjab.

8. Mohammed Shami

No doubt about the fact that Shami will be the spearhead of KXIP in this season as well. He is currently playing in the best bowling form of his life for Team India. And, if he managed to replicate his form in IPL 2020 then the chances for KXIP to win their maiden IPL trophy will surely increase.

He was bought by Punjab at a hefty price of 4.8 Crore in IPL auction 2018. Since then he has played 18 games and grabbed 21 wickets for his team. However, his last two season stats don’t give a broader picture of his calibre. But, his emergence as one of the deadly fast bowler in last one year cannot be taken away from him.

Shami will be having the responsibility to help KXIP in getting early wickets with the new ball and his four-over spell will be quite crucial for his side going into the IPL 2020.

9. Sheldon Cottrell

KXIP lavishly spend 8.5 Cr. in IPL auction 2020 in order to rope Cottrell in their team for the upcoming season. He has certainly emerged as one of the top-pacer for West Indies in last one year. In his short career of 22, T20Is Cottrell has grabbed 30 wickets with one four-wicket haul.

He is consistently performing well for his national team and his emergence as one of the best fast bowlers forced KXIP to pay such a hefty amount in the auction. It will also mark his debut stint in the IPL and a lot of things will be on the stakes. Punjab always had a problem with their fast bowling unit.

And, in IPL 2020 auction, they were in no mood to leave Cottrell, who might end their search of getting a good fast bowler to partner Mohammed Shami from the other end.

10. Murugan Ashwin

After Ravichandran Ashwin departure, now all the eyes have been settled on Murugan Ashwin, who is a brilliant wrist spinner. He has grabbed 15 wickets in 22 games in his overall IPL career and now in the upcoming season, he is expected to lead the spin bowling department for KXIP.

The best thing about the young wrist spinner is that he bowls at a brilliant economy and doesn’t offer much liberty to the batsmen to smash him for boundaries and sixes. Earlier this year he did a good job playing for Tamil Nadu in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in which Ashwin grabbed 11 wickets. However, the chances are quite high that KXIP  might start with Ashwin in IPL 2020.

Ishan Porel

Ishan Porel is an exciting fast bowler, who has done well for Bengal in the domestic circuit. He will be an exciting speedster to watch out playing for Kings XI Punjab. He will be bowling alongside Shami and Cottrell in his debut IPL season.

The young speedster is known for using variations in his bowling. He hogged the spotlight after he bowled a brilliant spell of 4/17 against Pakistan in Under-19 World Cup 2018. KXIP will use him as their third fast bowler in the upcoming season of the T20 tournament. And, it will surely make their fast bowling unit look strong.