Barring the first and the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League, Kings XI Punjab didn’t have many credentials to boast off in their journey so far in the IPL. Despite being a part of one of the most watched T20 leagues right from the very start, Kings XI Punjab have consistently performed under-par.
Australia’s dynamic all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been named as the skipper of the Mohali-based franchise this year. Experienced Virender Sehwag is also included as the head of cricket operations. Though, Punjab has made some smart buys in this year’s player auction by adding the likes of Darren Sammy, Eoin Morgan and Martin Guptill to bolster their squad.
Also Read: IPL Stunners: Revisit some of the Best Catches of IPL (Part II)
Some of the key players for Kings XI Punjab in 2017 edition of IPL:
Glenn Maxwell
The newly appointed skipper of Kings XI Punjab didn’t have a great outing for the franchise in the last edition of the IPL. Maxwell failed to deliver with both bat and ball which heavily impacted the results for the Punjab team. Maxwell has played 43 matches in the IPL so far, scoring 918 runs that include six blistering half-centuries. However, the Aussie has one of the best strike-rates in the shorter version, Maxwell has scored his runs at 161.61. Punjab will be hoping from Maxi to come good this season and lead from the front in the tenth season of the T20 league.
David Miller
The former skipper of Kings XI Punjab, David Miller has an important role to play in the Punjab middle-order. Just like Maxwell, the 27-year old left-handed batsman struggled in the 2016 IPL season. The attacking batsman has played 61 matches in IPL, he has scored 1480 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 145. Miller has also scored one hundred and eight fifties.
Martin Guptill
The new addition to the Mohali-based outfit, Martin Guptill would be expected to make a handsome contribution in this season of the IPL. The Kiwi opener is a seasoned campaigner for the Black Caps in both ODIs and Tests. Although Guptill doesn’t have much experience of playing in the IPL, his experience of 170 T20s under his belt is likely to earn him a place in the playing XI for Punjab. The 30-year old has scored more than 5000 runs at a solid average of 34.21 in the shorter format.
Eoin Morgan
The Dublin-born batsman is one of the most innovative and audacious stroke-makers in the gentlemen’s game presently. Morgan is a quintessential T20 cricketer who can up the tempo of the game at will. The England limited-overs skipper does not have a great record in the IPL so far. He has played 48 matches and scored 789 runs at a poor average of 21.81. If Punjab want to bag their maiden IPL title this year, they will desperately want Mogan to fire in the middle order.
