Key players to playing 11: Know about Kings XI Punjab ahead of IPL 2020

In the 2014 edition of IPL, the KXIP's Glenn Maxwell has hammered 552 runs in 16 games, helping the team reach its sole final till date. Check KXIP playing 11, players list, full schedule here

A restructured Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) has all the required ingredients to achieve success in the 13^th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) but the team need to rectify its old problem – a good start squandered as the tournament progresses.
 
KXIP went into the IPL 2020 auctions in December with the biggest prize purse and ended up purchasing nine players to solidify its iffy middle order and death bowling.

KXIP playing 11 prediction

KXIP tentative playing 11: KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Glenn Maxwell/Nicholas Pooran, Sarfraz Khan/Karun Nair, Mandeep Singh, Chris Jordan, K Gowtham, Mohammed Shami, Sheldon Cottrell/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ravi Bishnoi
 
KXIP's old problems
 
With the return of Glenn Maxwell in the middle order and having found death-bowling options in Sheldon Cottrell and Chris Jordan, the team seems to have its bases covered. Maxwell, who was out from cricketing action last year over mental health issue, has been in superb form since his return to cricket and recently he played an innings of his life for his national team Australia against England to win the series.

Check 2020 IPL latest news and live score updates here
 
KXIP batting department
 
The Mohali-based franchise already had a dangerous opening pair in Chris Gayle and K L Rahul with Mayank Agarwal, who is aiming to replicate his international success in the IPL, to follow. KXIP will also have to find a way to play Nicholas Pooran regularly with the West Indian coming off a successful campaign in CPL.
 
Either Mandeep Singh or Sarfaraz Khan is likely to support Maxwell in the middle-order for most of the league stage.
 

KL Rahul (Photo: IPL Twitter)

Key player for KXIP
 
The season will also be a big captaincy test for Rahul, who has been given the leadership role at the back of two stellar seasons as an opener. As he has said it himself, he will have to rely on support of head coach Anil Kumble and the rest of the support staff to deal with the high-pressure challenge.

Click here to download the KXIP scheule in pdf
 
KXIP bowling department
 
Besides Cottrell and Jordan, other fast bowling resources include spearhead Mohammad Shami, James Neesham, Hardus Viljoen, Darshan Nalkande, Arshdeep Singh and Ishan Porel.
 
Spin is expected to play a big role on the UAE pitches but KXIP don't have any big names in that department following the departure of R Ashwin. Mujeeb Zadran is the sole established name but he played only five games last year taking three wickets an economy rate of 10.05.

Check 2020 IPL full schedule here

They traded off spinner Krishnappa Gowtham and left-arm spinner J Suchith from Royals and Delhi respectively but don't inspire a lot of confidence. However, hopes will be high from leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who impressed in the 2020 U-19 World Cup.
 
Overseas players, who can find a place in KXIP playing 11?
 
It will be really interesting to see which of the best four KXIP regularly pick among eight high-quality overseas recruits in Gayle, Pooran, Maxwell, Neesham, Cottrell, Viljoen, Jordan and Zadran.
 
Maxwell is a certainty in the eleven but it remains to be seen if Gayle, who will soon be 41, will continue to be regular feature at the top of the order like the past two seasons.
 
Kumble has already said that he would want Gayle to have a bigger role in the team which includes mentoring of younger players.

Check 2020 IPL points table and team standings here

Maxwell emerged top run getter during 2014 edition of IPL in UAE
 
Maxwell will take heart from the fact he had a memorable run for KXIP the last time the tournament was played in the UAE, albeit partially. In that edition in 2014, the Australian hammered 552 runs in 16 games, helping the team reach its sole final till date.

Check Kings XI Punjab's full schedule, match timings and venues here:

KXIP FULL SCHEDULE FOR IPL 2020
DAY	DATE	MATCHES	IST	UAE	VENUE
THU	24-Sep-20	KXIP vs RCB	7:30PM	6:00PM	DUBAI
SUN	20-Sep-20	DC vs KXIP	7:30PM	6:00PM	DUBAI
SUN	27-Sep-20	RR vs KXIP	7:30PM	6:00PM	SHARJAH
THU	1-Oct-20	KXIP vs MI	7:30PM	6:00PM	ABU DHABI
SUN	4-Oct-20	KXIP vs CSK	7:30PM	6:00PM	DUBAI
THU	8-Oct-20	SRH vs KXIP	7:30PM	6:00PM	DUBAI
SAT	10-Oct-20	KXIP vs KKR	3:30PM	2:00PM	ABU DHABI
THU	15-Oct-20	RCB vs KXIP	7:30PM	6:00PM	SHARJAH
SUN	18-Oct-20	MI vs KXIP	7:30PM	6:00PM	DUBAI
TUE	20-Oct-20	KXIP vs DC	7:30PM	6:00PM	DUBAI
SAT	24-Oct-20	KXIP vs SRH	7:30PM	6:00PM	DUBAI
MON	26-Oct-20	KKR vs KXIP	7:30PM	6:00PM	SHARJAH
FRI	30-Oct-20	KXIP vs RR	7:30PM	6:00PM	ABU DHABI
SUN	1-Nov-20	CSK vs KXIP	3:30PM	2:00PM	ABU DHABI

Here is KXIP’s full squad for IPL 2020:

Player	Team	Retained/bought/traded in	Price (Rs cr)
K L Rahul	KXIP	Retained	11.00
Glenn Maxwell	KXIP	Bought	10.75
Sheldon Cottrell	KXIP	Bought	8.50
Krishnappa Gowtham	KXIP	Traded in	6.20
Karun Nair	KXIP	Retained	5.60
Mohammed Shami	KXIP	Retained	4.80
Nicholas Pooran	KXIP	Retained	4.20
Mujeeb Ur Rahman	KXIP	Retained	4.00
Chris Jordan	KXIP	Bought	3.00
Chris Gayle	KXIP	Retained	2.00
Ravi Bishnoi (uncapped)	KXIP	Bought	2.00
Mandeep Singh	KXIP	Retained	1.40
Mayank Agarwal	KXIP	Retained	1.00
Hardus Viljoen	KXIP	Retained	0.75
Prabhsimran Singh (uncapped)	KXIP	Bought	0.55
Deepak Hooda (uncapped)	KXIP	Bought	0.50
James Neesham	KXIP	Bought	0.50
Darshan Nalkande	KXIP	Retained	0.30
Sarfaraz Khan	KXIP	Retained	0.25
Arshdeep Singh	KXIP	Retained	0.20
Harpreet Brar	KXIP	Retained	0.20
Ishan Porel (uncapped)	KXIP	Bought	0.20
Jagadeesha Suchith	KXIP	Traded in	0.20
Murugan Ashwin	KXIP	Retained	0.20
Tajinder Dhillon (uncapped)	KXIP	Bought	0.20