IPL 10, Match 49, KXIP v KKR – Kings XI Punjab Predicted XI

Kings XI Punjab is the only team, that is not in the top 4 in the points table at the moment, but still, has an outside chance of making it to the playoffs. For that to happen, they will have to win all of their remaining three league games. The kind of form that Kolkata Knight Riders are in at the moment, Punjab has their work cut out.

Gambhir-led KKR destroyed RCB at home two days ago and are in no mood to put their foot off from the accelerator. With 16 points from 12 games, KKR are already through to the playoffs but they don’t want to lose any of the momentum they have at the moment. Kings XI had a horrible last game as they couldn’t defend 190 runs against Gujarat Lions at home. They need to pull their socks up as KKR will come into this game firing all cylinders.

Hashim Amla has been carrying the batting department on his shoulders and it is about time that the others step in for Amla can’t do it on his own every game. Their bowlers, barring Sandeep Sharma, haven’t had the best of seasons and need to step up in this crucial game.

Let us have a look at the Predicted XI for Kings XI Punjab for their crucial home game against the Kolkata Knight Riders:

Openers (Shaun Marsh and Martin Guptill)

Martin Guptill has a reputation of being a clean striker of the ball. The Kiwi opener has had scores of 2 and 9 post his unbeaten half-century against Delhi Daredevils. He has a lot of international experience which will be handy for him as well as Kings XI in the remaining league games. He needs to step-up as Amla, who was in outstanding form, flew home to prepare for the forthcoming Champions Trophy.

Shaun Marsh has been the other batsman, apart from Amla who has done well consistently. Barring the two hundreds from Amla, only 6 half-centuries have been recorded this year by a Kings XI Punjab’s batsman and Marsh has 2 of them that too off just 6 games.

He needs to carry this form till the end of the league games. Marsh’s strike rate of 140 has been impressive as well. His 43-ball 58 in the last game was instrumental in getting Kings XI to 189 runs at the end of 20 overs. He will open the innings alongside Guptill in absence of the experienced Amla.

Middle Order (Glenn Maxwell, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Wriddhiman Saha and Darren Sammy)

Maxwell has a decent average of 31 this year but the telling knocks haven’t happened for the Australian yet. With the highest score of 44*, Maxwell needs to produce a big impact innings which he is popular for. If the 28-year old gets going, there is no ground in the world which is too big for him. He has done a decent job for his team with his off-spin picking 6 wickets from 11 games at an economy rate of 6.80.

Gurkeerat Singh Mann has been picked for two games but didn’t get to face a single delivery. Mann has been a consistent performer at the domestic level and has also played for the Indian ODI team in 3 games. He can play the run-a-ball inning required in the middle overs and launch an attack towards the end of the innings. Mann can also turn his arm over as and when required with his off-spinners.

Saha’s season has not been a good one. He was moved around the order and was never persisted with higher up the batting order. The wicketkeeper has to take whatever opportunities that come his way and produce performances that are usually associated with him. He has been outstanding behind the stumps but his side needs him to do well in front of the stumps too.

Darren Sammy can add value to the struggling Kings XI side. True that he hasn’t played a game for more than a month, Sammy has enough class to perform straight away in the first game. His power-hitting can be utilised during the end stages of an innings. He can also give a bowling option to Maxwell with his military medium pace.

All-rounder (Axar Patel)

Patel is enjoying a decent season with both bat and ball as he averages 25.42 and 22.53 respectively. He has done the job with the bat whenever promoted up the order to get quick runs as his strike rate of almost 150 this year suggests. He needs to attack more as a bowler rather than being a containing bowler. Taking wickets is the best way of containing the run-scoring in this format as Axar very well knows.

Bowlers (Sandeep Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Varun Aaron and Rahul Tewatia)

Sandeep Sharma has been amongst the wickets this year but needs to put a cap of the run scoring as well as he tends to concede far too many runs on occasions. The kind of talent he is, an economy rate of 8.23 doesn’t do justice to his skill and accuracy. Otherwise, he has led the Punjab attack throughout the tournament and his team needs him to do the very same in the remainder of the season.

Mohit Sharma was unlucky to not have Dwayne Smith’s wicket in the last game as David Miller grassed the simplest of chances off Sharma. The Haryana bowler bowls cunningly in the middle overs by using all his variation as well as experience. He is all set to share the new ball with Sandeep in the game against KKR, as he has done almost all season.

Varun Aaron has gone for runs this year but also has picked wickets at crucial junctures. He has raw pace and if he channels it by bowling a tight line, he could be a better bowler than what he has been this year. 7 wickets from 6 games at an economy rate of 8.15 this year is not too bad a performance.

Rahul Tewatia can be a handy player for the Kings XI Punjab. The Haryana leg-spinner can spin the ball and is very useful with the bat lower down the order. Wrist spin has been very effective this year and Punjab must give this youngster a go.

It’s now or never for the Maxwell-led unit. If they lose this one, they will be surely out of contention in the playoffs.