New skipper, fresh signings carry renewed hopes for Kings XI Punjab
Pragya Tiwari, New Delhi, Apr 08, 2016, DHNS
Team in focus
It is one team that has been high on promise and low on delivery. Kings XI Punjab, over the years, have been home to some of the top players of the world, especially the Australians, but as a unit they have flattered to deceive. Save in 2014 when they made it to the final of the tournament powered by the likes of big-hitters like Glenn Maxwell, David Miller and Virender Sehwag.
In 2015 they finished at the very bottom of eight-team pool. Their big names in batsmen flopped miserably and it was left to the bowlers, spearheaded by none other than Mitchell Johnson, to bail the team out in crunch games.
Following their disastrous show last year, Kings XI have tweaked their team this season by shedding some of the batsmen including captain George Bailey. Virender Sehwag, who announced his retirement from international cricket and IPL last year, has been appointed the mentor of the side. The core of the team though remains the same and the captaincy has been handed to South African David Miller.
At the top of batting they would want Murali Vijay to fire. Vijay has been with the Kings for one seasons now but has not been able to score as heavily as he did when with Chennai Super Kings. Maxwell and Miller, too, would have to regain their devastating touch. Indian recruits Gurkeerat Mann, Rishi Dhawan and Manan Vohra, who have been with the team for a long time now, too, will have to shoulder bigger responsibilities. .
In the bowling department, Johnson, who has now retired from international cricket, would be eager to go full throttle. He has played some matches in Australia to be match fit for the IPL. The presence of Mohit Sharma will add teeth to the pace bowling and in the death. Not to forget the hard working Shardul Thakur, who impressed with his pace and attitude, and Sandeep Sharma, who troubled the batsmen with his swing. Axar Patel, after a brilliant performance in the Vijay Hazare trophy, would be looking to continue in the same vein. They have some new recruits like Big Bash star performer Marcus Stoinis, South African Kyle Abbott and Farhaan Behardien. What the Kings XI need most is to play like a unit and give consistent performances.
Squad: David Miller (C), Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Manan Vohra, Murali Vijay, Nikhil Naik, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mitchell Johnson, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Anureet Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Rishi Dhawan, Kyle Abbott, KC Cariappa, Marcus Stoinis, Farhaan Behardien, Pradeep Sahu, Armaan Jaffer, Swapnil Singh.
In 2015 they finished at the very bottom of eight-team pool. Their big names in batsmen flopped miserably and it was left to the bowlers, spearheaded by none other than Mitchell Johnson, to bail the team out in crunch games.
Following their disastrous show last year, Kings XI have tweaked their team this season by shedding some of the batsmen including captain George Bailey. Virender Sehwag, who announced his retirement from international cricket and IPL last year, has been appointed the mentor of the side. The core of the team though remains the same and the captaincy has been handed to South African David Miller.
At the top of batting they would want Murali Vijay to fire. Vijay has been with the Kings for one seasons now but has not been able to score as heavily as he did when with Chennai Super Kings. Maxwell and Miller, too, would have to regain their devastating touch. Indian recruits Gurkeerat Mann, Rishi Dhawan and Manan Vohra, who have been with the team for a long time now, too, will have to shoulder bigger responsibilities. .
In the bowling department, Johnson, who has now retired from international cricket, would be eager to go full throttle. He has played some matches in Australia to be match fit for the IPL. The presence of Mohit Sharma will add teeth to the pace bowling and in the death. Not to forget the hard working Shardul Thakur, who impressed with his pace and attitude, and Sandeep Sharma, who troubled the batsmen with his swing. Axar Patel, after a brilliant performance in the Vijay Hazare trophy, would be looking to continue in the same vein. They have some new recruits like Big Bash star performer Marcus Stoinis, South African Kyle Abbott and Farhaan Behardien. What the Kings XI need most is to play like a unit and give consistent performances.
Squad: David Miller (C), Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Manan Vohra, Murali Vijay, Nikhil Naik, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mitchell Johnson, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Anureet Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Rishi Dhawan, Kyle Abbott, KC Cariappa, Marcus Stoinis, Farhaan Behardien, Pradeep Sahu, Armaan Jaffer, Swapnil Singh.
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