5 options Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) have to trim down their squad to 24 players

Fortunately for cricket lovers across the globe, the game is about to be back in its full flow with the Indian Premier League set to take place in the United Arab Emirates. Recently, the Indian Government gave clearance to the BCCI to conduct the tournament in the middle-east nation and the preparations for the tournament are in full swing. The franchises will shortly meet with the board members to discuss the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the tournament.

The BCCI is planning a 24-player cap on all the franchise squads travelling to the UAE for the tournament. The cap has been decided keeping the bio-secure bubbles and regulations to check the infestation of the virus in minds. Only Kings XI Punjab, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals have more than 24 players in their squad, meaning thereby that they will have to leave one of their players behind before leaving for the tournament.

Since the inaugural season in 2008, Kings XI Punjab have always been under-par in their performances in the IPL, qualifying for finals only once, in the year 2014. Interestingly, the initial few matches of the 2014 season were also hosted in the Emirates. Their star player in that season, Glenn Maxwell will be making his comeback for the lions in this season as well.

Here in this article, we will discuss 5 potential players who could be dropped from Kings XI Punjab in order to trim the squad down to 24 players:

1. Harpreet Brar

The 24-year-old All-rounder from Moga is the first player on the list of potential candidates to be dropped from the squad. The left-armer is a talented player who has not quite lived up to his potential in the league. He has a single valuable contribution in the two games he played which, however, does not guarantee his place in the squad.

Drafted into the squad in 2018 auctions, Brar played only a couple of games during the 2019 season of the tournament. In the single innings he played, he managed to score 20 runs from 12 deliveries. On the other hand, he was not able to pick up even a single wicket in the two matches whilst leaking runs at 9.6 an over.

The Kings already have two quality Indian all-rounders in their squad in Deepak Hooda and Krishnappa Gowtham. Both of them are likely to be selected in the playing XI ahead of the inexperienced Brar. Thus, there is a high chance that he may be dropped from the squad altogether.