Sports
Kings XI Punjab gunning for ultimate glory (IPL Team profile)
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By Anurag Dey Mohali, April 5
Boasting an array of dazzling
stroke makers and heady mix of experience and exuberance, Kings XI
Punjab, having finished runners-up in the last edition of the Indian
Premier League (IPL), are raring to go one step better this time.
Having
faltered to deceive in earlier editions of the cash-rich cricket
league, Kings XI emerged as the team to beat in the last edition, riding
on the sustained explosive performances from Australian dasher Glenn
Maxwell and South African David Miller.
Beside the presence of
seasoned campaigners like aggressive bat Virender Sehwag and pacer
Mitchell Johnson, the exciting Indian contingent of Wriddhiman Saha,
Axar Patel and Manan Vohra made the Kings a force to reckon with.
However, Maxwell, who played a key role in Australia's world cup
triumph, will continue to be the key.
Armed with a repertoire of
unconventional shots, Maxwell is known for taking the attack to the
opposition irrespective of the situation. In addition he can bowl
right-arm off-spin, bat anywhere in the middle-order and like most
Australians is a fantastic fielder.
Led by the assuring
captain-coach duo of George Bailey and Sanjay Bangar, the Kings have
enough firepower in both the batting and bowling departments that make
them one of the contenders for the title.
With Sehwag and Vijay -
the only Indians to have cracked two IPL tons each - at the top and the
likes of Saha, Bailey, Miller, Maxwell and Shaun Marsh in the ranks,
the Kings arguably have the best batting line-up.
Spearheading
the bowling attack, lanky Australian pacer Johnson will have able
support in Sandeep Sharma and Shardul Thakur, who with 48 wickets has
emerged as the joint highest wicket taker in this year's Ranji trophy.
Known
for his discipline spin bowling, Kings would look up to left armer Axar
Patel, who in the last season played a pivotal role snatching 17
wickets in as many matches.
In Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Manan Vohra
and Rishi Dhawan, the Kings have three promising youngsters while they
can always rely on Sri lankan Thisara Perera, who emerged as a prolific
all-rounder in limited-overs cricket lately. His aggressive batting
style and ability to pick crucial wickets make him a crucial player.
The squad:
Indian
Players: Virender Sehwag, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket keeper), Axar Patel,
Murali Vijay, Anureet Singh, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Karanveer Singh,
Manan Vohra, Parvinder Awana, Rishi Dhawan, Sandeep Sharma, Shardul
Thakur, Shivam Sharma, Nikhil Naik, Yogesh Golwalkar
Foreign signings: George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Beuran Hendricks, David Miller, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Thisara Perera.
Team
Schedule-Home matches: vs Rajasthan Royals (April 10), vs Delhi
Daredevils (April 15), vs Kolkata Knight Riders (April 18), vs Sunrisers
Hyderabad (April 27), vs Mumbai Indians (May 3), vs Royal Challengers
Bangalore (May 13), vs Chennai Super Kings (May 16)
Away matches:
vs Mumbai Indians (April 12), vs Rajasthan Royals (April 21), vs
Chennai Super Kings (April 25), vs Delhi Daredevils (May 1), vs Royal
Challengers Bangalore (May 6), vs Kolkata Knight Riders (May9), vs
Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 11)
IPL Record: 2008-semi-finalist; 2009-5th; 2010-last; 2011-5th; 2012-6th; 2013-6th; 2014-runners up.
(Anurag Dey can be contacted at [email protected])