IPL 2017: Is it Kings XI Punjab’s turn to do the ‘BALLE, BALLE’?

Indian Premier League: Big names like Darren Sammy, Eoin Morgan and Martin Guptill, means they have a lot of power in the reserves

By: Ankit Banerjee |
March 30, 2017 2:19 pm

They have had a miserable run ever since Indian Premier League came into existence in 2017. The best opportunity they had was back in 2014 when they made it to the finals of the cash-rich league, only to suffer a loss to the hands of the Kolkata Knight Riders, in what was a nail-biter of a game. Not to forget they made it to the last four in the inaugural season as well. Owner Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia have supported this unit even during bad times, they have given it all but have been eluded of an IPL crown.

This year they would go all out to change history in a way. So what does the team have in terms of arsenal and ammunition this time round that could make them emerge trumps?

Combination (weaknesses and strengths)

For starters, they have a new captain in the ever-so breathtaking Glenn Maxwell. There will also be an experienced head at the helm of managing affairs, Virender Sehwag, which is bound to help. This year they have big names like Darren Sammy, Eoin Morgan and Martin Guptill, this means they have a lot of power in the reserves.

Indian Sandeep Sharma and Varun Aaron will spearhead the fast bowling department with Axar Patel taking care of the spin. At the top of the order, they will have the services of sound Murali Vijay and Shaun Marsh. Don’t forget there is the big-hitting David Miller lurking behind them as well. This team looks to have the right mix in sense of playing with different strategies as they have solidity at the top and power hitters in the middle. This looks a good batting unit but their bowling attack looks slim.

However, they would like to erase last year’s dreadful memories—when they finished last in the points table—with that of a glorious victory by winning the IPL championship.

उलटी गिनती शुरू हो गई है! हम नए @IPL सीजन के पहले गेम से 10 दिन दूर हैं। क्या आप लड़कों के लिए दहाड़ने को तैयार हैं? #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi pic.twitter.com/am2Qeglxey

— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) March 29, 2017

Player to watch out for: T Natarajan

SQUAD: David Miller, Manan Vohra, Axar Patel, Glenn Maxwell, Gurkeerat Singh, Anureet Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Shaun Marsh, Wriddhiman Saha, M Vijay, Nikhil Naik, Mohit Sharma, Marcus Stoinis, KC Cariappa, Armaan Jaffer, Pardeep Sahu, Swapnil Singh, Hashim Amla, Eoin Morgan, Rahul Tewatia, T Natarajan, Matt Henry, Varun Aaron, Martin Guptill, Darren Sammy, Rinku Singh.