KXIP Team Preview: Captained By KL Rahul, Kings XI Punjab is playing their 13th consecutive season in Indian Premier League. Although never winning the trophy, they have been runners-up once in 2014 season.
After Ravi Ashwin went to Delhi Capitals, KL Rahul was appointed as a captain. Anil Kumble is director for cricketing operations and head coach of the team.
KXIP Team Preview: Players
Rajasthan Royals has retained 11 players and released 11 players for 2020 season. In this year’s auction, they bought Robin Uthappa, Jaydev Unadkat, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Anuj Rawat, Aakash Singh, Kartik Tyagi, David Miller, Oshan Thomas, Anirudha Joshi, Andrew Tye and Tom Curran.
KXIP Team Preview: Full Squad:
| Players | Country |
| KL Rahul(C) | India |
| Karun Nair | India |
| Chris Gayle | West Indies |
| Mayank Agarwal | India |
| Mandeep Singh | India |
| Sarfaraz Khan | India |
| Deepak Hooda | India |
| Glenn Maxwell | Australia |
| James Neesham | New Zealand |
| Tajinder Singh | India |
| Nicolas Pooran | West Indies |
| Prabhsimran Singh | India |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Afghanistan |
| Murugan Ashwin | India |
| Harpreet Brar | India |
| Krishnappa Gowtham | India |
| Jagadeesha Suchith | India |
| Ravi Bishnoi | India |
| Mohammed Shami | India |
| Darshan Nalkande | India |
| Hardus Viljoen | South Africa |
| Arshdeep Singh | India |
| Sheldon Cottrell | West Indies |
| Chris Jordan | England |
| Ishan Porel | India |
KXIP Team Preview: Coaches
- Head Coach: Anil Kumble
- Assistant Coach: Amol Muzumdar
- Batting Coach: Wasim Jaffer
- Bowling Coach: Charl Langeveldt
- Fielding Coach: Jonty Rhodes
KXIP Team Preview: Analysis
KXIP Team Preview: Bowling Preview:
Despite their key spinner and former captain Ravi Ashwin leaving KXIP for Delhi, the team still has great combination of Indian Spinners. The likes of Murugan Ashwin, Jagdeesha Sucith are present in the team. Indian U-19 world cup leading wicket-taker Ravi Bishnoi is another addition to the team.
Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s spell would be crucial for KXIP in the middle overs. We can expect spinner friendly pitches in UAE stadiums as spinners would be vital for any team’s success including theirs. Glen Maxwell could also bowl some overs, who is an effective option as well.
Apart from spinners, some good pacers could deliver as well. But it looks little weak compared to the spin department. Mohammed Shami will be leading fast bowling department but apart from him, there is no visible Indian replacement pacer of his standard.
Chris Jordan is specialist T20 bowler who could perform well this season. South African pace bowler Hardus Viljoen and Sheldon Cottrell are other two foreign fast bowlers who could be effective if used wisely. It is yet to see how KXIP would choose their XI.
KXIP Team Preview: Batting Preview:
KL Rahul, the highest scorer for KXIP team is given an entirely new role i.e Captaincy. It is yet to see how Rahul could cope with this new responsibility. Undoubtly, he would be leading the batting department and end up being highest scorer of the team this year too. Mayank Agarwal is the most likely one to open with Rahul.
Despite presence of Universe boss Chris Gayle, there are doubts that he will be the first choice player. It is even speculated that, leaving him from the first team squad would led more stable team for KXIP. Karun Nair is another Indian batsman who can be crucial if he gets opportunity in the first team squad.
Perhaps, two most crucial players fro KXIP would be Glen Maxwell and Nicolas Pooran. Both Australian and Trinidadian are explosive players and could be crucial in this year’s success of the team. They are most likely to play in No. 3 and 4 respectively.
Sarfaraz Khan and Deepak Hooda could be finishers for them. Especially Sarfaraz was in great form in Syed Mustaq Ali trophy. Everything would be clear regarding team selection and KXIP strategy when they will play against Delhi Capitals on 20th September.
KXIP Team Preview: Schedule
Access full schedule of Indian Premier League(IPL 2020) : Click here
Access team schedule of Kings XI Punjab: Click here