KXIP Playing 11 today: The Sportsrush presents before you KXIP’s Predicted Playing 11 for their ninth match of IPL 2019.
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On their day, Kings XI Punjab have given the impression of being one of the top teams in IPL 2019. On other occasions, they ended up on the losing side against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Such has been the season for them!
With four wins and four losses in eight matches, Kings XI are currently at No. 5 in the points table. Another defeat would see them sliding down the table, something which will make their prospects of qualifying difficult in the times to come.
Having won three out of four matches in Mohali, Kings XI would be banking on the home advantage in a bid to come back to winning ways tomorrow.
KXIP Playing 11 today
Top-order
Punjab’s opening pair of Lokesh Rahul and Chris Gayle have been their focal point in IPL 2019. With both of them currently the No. 2 and 3 in the list of highest run-scorers for the season, it is evident how well they have done for the team.
Punjab’s No. 3 in Mayank Agarwal also being their third-highest run-scorer further speaks about their prowess at the top of the order. The team management would be hoping for the Top 3 to continue piling on the runs against Rajasthan Royals tomorrow.
Middle-order
Perhaps, a reason why Punjab’s middle-order hasn’t done well is the fact how the batsmen have been moved up and down the order. While some peculiar ploys did work for the franchise, most of them have not.
In the last match vs RCB, KXIP played wicket-keeper batsman Nicholas Pooran ahead of David Miller. However, they promoted all-rounder Sam Curran above Pooran to the extent that the West Indian cricketer didn’t get a chance to bat.
Kings XI might include experienced all-rounder Moises Henriques in place of Pooran and continue Rahul as the makeshift wicket-keeper. The move will also give them an addition bowling option preventing captain Ravichandran Ashwin from giving the last over of the innings to Sarfaraz Khan.
Bowlers
A weakness for Punjab in this season has been the form of fast bowler Andrew Tye. From being the highest wicket-taker last season to dismissing a couple of batsmen in four matches at an average of 77.50, an economy rate of 9.68 and a strike rate of 48.
Once again playing three spinners, KXIP can look to bring back Mujeeb Ur Rahman in place of Tye. While Curran has picked wickets, Punjab would be wanting his economy rate of 9.98 to drop down. On the contrary, while Murugan Ashwin has an economy rate of 6.5, KXIP would be wanting him to take more wickets.
KXIP Playing 11 today – 1) Lokesh Rahul (wk) 2) Chris Gayle 3) Mayank Agarwal 4) Moises Henriques 5) Sarfaraz Khan 6) Mandeep Singh 7) Sam Curran 8) Ravichandran Ashwin (c) 9) Mohammed Shami 10) Murugan Ashwin 11) Mujeeb Ur Rahman
