IPL 2018: Aakash Chopra predicts the starting XI for Kings XI Punjab

He also picked the captain for the team.

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Ravichandran Ashwin
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Ravichandran Ashwin of India. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Former Indian cricketer turned analyst, Aakash Chopra is assisting the franchises to pick the best possible XI ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. All the eight teams went into the auction with different strategies and in the end, picked the bunch they thought would help their bid to win the title. Kings XI Punjab, in particular, let all their players go except Axar Patel and had to rebuild the entire team in the auction.

Led by Preity Zinta KXIP were aggressive with their bids and pursued almost all notable players. The first most important signing was Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, they also got hold of opener KL Rahul and veterans Yuvraj Singh along with Chris Gayle.

With Virender Sehwag at the helm of affairs as far as team operations are concerned the Kings do have a really good side at their disposal and it will be quite a task for the management to finalize the starting XI. Chopra might have just done them a favour here identifying the players who should find a place in the first few matches.

He decided to open the batting with Rahul and Australian opener Aaron Finch doing that he overlooked the Universe Boss who is without a doubt the most popular name in this format. “Why not Chris Gayle, because Viru (Virender Sehwag) had said they will not start with Gayle also because Aaron Finch is in red hot form and is a match winner,” the former Indian opener said.

He has Karun at No. 1, Yuvi at 4, killer Miller follows him along with Stoinis who has the responsibility of finishing the innings for his team. KXIP will also want him to chip in with a few overs unless Yuvraj Singh bowls. The two spinners are Patel and Ashwin who is also supposed to be leading this team. Then there is the cult death bowler AJ Tye and the two Indian pacers Mohit and Sran.

Aakash Chopra’s starting XI for KXIP

KL Rahul, Aaron Finch, Karun Nair, Yuvraj Singh, David Miller, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin (C), Andrew Tye, Mohit Sharma, Baridner Sran

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