IPL 2017: Glenn Maxwell named Kings XI Punjab captain

Hard hitting Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been named the captain of the Kings XI Punjab for the 2017 edition of the IPL. The Kings XI Punjab have had a terrible time in the league for the last two years. They have been unfortunate in bagging the wooden spoons in the previous two editions despite getting most of the boxes ticked correctly. The new appointment of the captain will hopefully be a big boost for the new look side.

The franchise have been very wise in their pickings this year and has roped in the services of English skipper Eoin Morgan as well. There were speculations of Morgan being named the captain, but on March 10, the Kings made the official announcement about the new skipper of the franchise. Glenn Maxwell has been a powerful performer for the team over the years.

In the 2014 edition of the tournament, it was Maxwell’s hat-trick scores of 90s that had set the stage on fire in the UAE leg of the tournament. He had finished with 552 runs in 16 matches that season with a strike rate of 187.75 as the Kings had finished as the runners-up of the tournament. He had a low-key season in the previous edition though as he could muster just 179 runs in 11 matches.

Overall, he has played 43 IPL matches for his tally of 918 runs with a strike rate of 161.61. The official social media handle of the Kings XI Punjab made the announcement of his appointment as they wrote, “With fireworks in his batting, bowling & fielding it’s time to unleash the Captain in him. The King of our Pride this season – @Gmaxi_32!”

With fireworks in his batting, bowling & fielding it's time to unleash the Captain in him.

The King of our Pride this season – @Gmaxi_32! pic.twitter.com/HkAEYtft9w

— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) March 9, 2017

In the previous edition, they had named South African middle-order batsman David Miller as the leader of the side. Miller had a terrible time taking-in-charge of the franchise and midway through the tournament, the captaincy baton was handed over to opener Murali Vijay. Hopefully, there will be turn in fortunes for the Kings with the change in captaincy role.