KXIP Predicted 11 vs KKR: The Sportsrush presents before you KXIP’s Predicted Playing 11 for their 13th match of IPL 2019 vs KKR.
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Having lost their way massively with three straight defeats, it’s now or never for Kings XI Punjab. Having slumped all the way down to 7th place after coming right off the blocks in the initial stages, the tournament couldn’t have swerved off in worse fashion for the Punjab based franchisee.
It’s been the same script for the Kings as the previous season. After having wiped apart sides in the first half, the second half has seen them be trounced with comprehensive ease. They’ve fizzled out, way before they could sizzle, a downward slide that has seen their campaign lose all semblance.
When they take on KKR in their own stadium, Punjab know they need to get back to winning ways. It’s their last chance of having any shout in for the knock-out stage, taking on an adversary who are just above them on the virtue of net run-rate.
What’s the biggest bone of contention for KXIP is their team combination, with neither the middle-order nor the bowling unit being able to step up and make their presence count at the requisite moments.
KKR Predicted Playing 11 vs KXIP
KKR Top-order
Probably the only area where Punjab have found consistency and reliability in, Chris Gayle and KL Rahul will come out to open the innings. This is a surface that Gayle has also scored the big runs at with the batting friendly conditions playing into his batting style. The side need him to play out an innings that lasts the distance and tears apart KKR.
Following up will be Mayank Agarwal, another Indian prospect who has completely failed to deliver when needed. Apart from the couple of meaningful innings, it’s been a season that he would like to put behind and the last two matches offer an opportunity to show that he can perform for the Indian side in the time to follow.
KKR Middle-order
David Miller has endured yet another torrid tournament, showing that apart from the big lashes, he’s completely out of his depth when required to build out an innings from scratch. However with hardly anyone else to turn to, he’ll continue to find a place in the middle-order for Punjab.
Sarfaraz Khan, Nicholas Pooran and Sam Curran should be the ones to follow up, offering good depth to the lower part of the unit but one that doesn’t bode of too many quality players.
Against KKR’s spinners in Sunil Narine and Piyush Chawla, it won’t be surprising to see them cleaned out cheaply. All eyes on this part of the side for Punjab if they are to put up a real fight in the clash.
KKR Bowlers
Another area of massive concern for the side, a paper thin bowling unit has come back to bite Punjab time and time again this year. Sam Curran has completely vanished off the surface of the tournament after this hattrick against Delhi and with last year’s purple cap winner Andrew Type a lost cause as well, it’s tough to see Punjab working up the wickets column.
They’ll still go in with Sam Curran and the new Arshdeep Singh to accompany Shami, without a doubt their most dependable bowler this season. The spin department will remain unchanged with the two Ashwin’s completely a bowling unit that is a huge predicament for the franchise.
KXIP Predicted 11 vs KKR – `) Chris Gayle 2) KL Rahul 3) Mayank Agarwal 4) Sarfaraz Khan 5) Nicholas Pooran (wk) 6) David Miller 7) Sam Curran 8) Ravichandran Ashwin (c) 9) Murugan Ashwin 10) Mohammed Shami 11) Arshdeep Singh
