As we move ahead with India’s first cricket contest: the Indian Premier League, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will be taking on Delhi Capitals in what is set to be the first match for both the teams in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) post-Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, where Chennai came out victorious. Both these teams have over the years didn’t perform much extraordinarily and have merely reached the top 4 positions. However, the situation might be different this season.
For Kings XI Punjab, the time prior to the commencement of the new edition was a difficult one and filled with uncertainty and upheaval. After underachieving multiple times in the IPL many seasons, the team once again turned to multiple changes in a bid during the auction to cover up the messes made earlier.
The team roped in KL Rahul as their new skipper and Anil Kumble as their new coach along with splurging over the pick of Maxwell and Andrich. The side will be hoping that this shuffle around finally unlocks the true talent and potential of their side with this being the side that they finally come alive and show their power, as we hope for them to take off for a solid start today. The team’s reputation in terms of bowlers works in their favor on the UAE wicket.
Delhi Capitals (DC) somehow managed to fit in the Qualifier 2 last year and this year, but a lot of critics and fans alike are backing them assuming they move ahead from their comfort zone with the spin attack and Indian core they possess. And the Kings XI Punjab, on the other hand, has had a change of guard and will be wishing that holds them in a good position. With several star players in both these line ups, here are the three best players for KXIP against the Delhi Capitals.
1. KL Rahul
KL Rahul is a player who is a player of merit and one of the most valuable players for the Indian Cricket or for any other team he represents. Rahul has been India’s top best T20 player across International games as well as IPL in the last couple of years. While he has 679 runs in the last 16 international T20 innings at a strike rate of 143, in the last two IPL seasons he has finished among the top scorers with 593 and 659 runs respectively. With KL Rahul in Punjab’s side, the team will not only get a strong opener for the innings but also a strong wicket keeper which will give the team an opportunity to bank on.
2. Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell has managed to show jaw-dropping performances multiple times during the Indian Premier League. With the match practice behind him and an outstanding century against England just before landing at UAE, Maxwell can be expected to perform well. His off-spin will be handy against the Delhi batting line up which will likely be comprised of four left-handers in the top 7. He had a great run in UAE in 2014 and if he performs anything like that, he will be a great addition to your team.
3. Chris Gayle
Is there a need for an explanation here? Chris Gayle fondly called the Universe boss” is slowly looking to have reached the end of his career. His mere presence in any team is a blessing in disguise because of his amazing performances. Known for hitting the biggies and the boundaries, Gayle will be the best pick by KXIP to get those effortless boundaries and reach the milestones much quicker.
