Kings XI Punjab Team 2019: The Sportsrush presents before you KXIP’s Predicted Playing 11 for their 14th match of IPL 2019 vs CSK.
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Underwhelming would be a small word to describe how the Kings XI Punjab season has panned out for them. After suffering yet another heavy defeat to KKR on Friday, the franchise’s campaign saw curtains fall down on it, hammering them for one last time towards the trenches of the league table.
It’s not just the way that Punjab have exited the tournament but rather the agonizing way in which they’ve put in shambolic performances that makes for an unpleasant spectacle. On a four-match losing spree, KXIP are currently on the worst form of all the eight participating sides.
Against Chennai Super Kings tomorrow, the match is one last opportunity for them to show that they are not as bad as their current performances have showcased.
ALSO READ: Match Prediction | KXIP vs CSK | IPL 2019
It’s by no stretch of the imagination going to be an easy proposition for them though with CSK in tremendous form. For the Kings, the first and foremost step lies in getting their team combination right, more so the bowling unit which has been their biggest cause of concern.
Kings XI Punjab Team 2019
KXIP Top-order
The only area of the side which has remained unchanged and will continue to do so in the concluding match as well. Despite both Chris Gayle and KL Rahul departing cheaply against KKR, they’ll be expected to come up with the runs on a batting friendly surface. They are the two batsmen that Punjab have heavy dependence on and if they can set themselves in the middle a colossal innings isn’t too far-fetched an idea.
After disappointing for the most part of this season, KXIP No. 3 in Mayank Agarwal came up with 36 runs in his side’s previous encounter. He has the shots in him to play the ball cleanly and if given time again, he can easily come up with another good innings.
KXIP Middle-order
Despite their abysmal defeat the last time around they traversed the field, what was one area of contention for the unit was their middle-order. Both Pooran and Sam Curran scored devastating innings, a complete onslaught with their resolute knocks helping add some kind of fortitude to an otherwise dismal Punjab unit.
Subsequently, on the back of those performances, both will retain their places in the unit alongside Mandeep Singh to complete number 4-6 for the home side.
KXIP Bowlers
We’ve grown tired of mentioning how lacklustre and precarious Punjab have been in the bowling setup. Ever since the auction, it was one area they needed to fill in the gaps and cover over the massive holes. They failed to do so and its comeback to crumble their season in diabolic style.
However, with absolutely no one at their disposal to turn their eyes to, the Punjab side will go in with the same identity. Shami, Sam Curran, Andrew Tye and Arshdeep Singh will look to hold fort in the bowling department whilst the spin area will continue to see the two Ashwins in operation.
Kings XI Punjab Team 2019 – 1) Lokesh Rahul 2) Chris Gayle 3) Mayank Agarwal 4) Nicholas Pooran (wk) 5)
Mandeep Singh 6) Sam Curran 7) Ravichandran Ashwin (c) 8) Murugan Ashwin 9) Mohammed Shami 10) Arshdeep Singh 11) Andrew Tye
