The Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) is the IPL franchise based out of Mohali and is owned by a consortium of Mohit Burman, Ness Wadia, Preity Zinta, and Karan Paul. The team’s home ground in the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali, while it has played a handful of games in Dharamshala and Indore.
The franchise was first captained by Yuvraj Singh, who was the icon player of the KXIP and made it into the playoffs in the inaugural year of 2008. After that, the team failed to manage to qualify for the playoffs till the 2014 edition, when they reached the finals under the leadership of George Bailey. They have finished 7th and 6th in the last two editions of the tournament under R Ashwin.
The franchise has always shown promise in the league but faltered in the ending league stages of the tournament quite often. But they have seen many good players feature for them over the years and Team COC presents to you the All-time XI of the KXIP franchise.
KL Rahul was bought by the KXIP owners before the IPL 2018 and has been one of the best buys for them in a long time. In two seasons, he has singlehandedly carried their batting with 1252 runs at a strike rate of 146.60. He has scored a brilliant ton last season and hit the fastest IPL fifty off just 14 balls.
Shaun Marsh was the first real performer for the Punjab team when in just 11 matches in IPL 2008, he slammed 611 runs and won the Orange Cap for most runs. He continued to serve the franchise well, playing 71 matches and making 2477 runs with one century to his name and 20 half-centuries as well. He hit 266 fours and 78 sixes as well.
Wriddhiman Saha might be a surprise pick for the KXIP all-time IPL XI, but his innings of 115* in the finals of the 2014 edition against Kolkata Knight Riders will always be remembered in annals of history. He made 1190 runs in 62 matches with 5 fifties to go with it.
DAVID MILLER
M: 84| Runs: 1974| HS: 101*| SR: 139.40| 100s: 1| 50s: 9| 4s: 138|6s: 91
David Miller was part of the franchise from 2012 and was released before this year’s auction. He was the best finisher the team had for a long time, scoring 1974 runs in 84 matches at a strike rate of 139.40 with one amazing ton against RCB in IPL 2013 when came to rescue with team 64/4 in chase of 191 runs. He slammed 101 off 38 balls with 7 sixes and 8 fours.
Glenn Maxwell will be seen playing for KXIP once more in IPL 2020, after missing the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He has played 57 matches and scored 1275 runs with a best of 95 at a strike rate of 165.36 and also captained the team at one time. He is an excellent T20 player and his record speaks for itself.
Yuvraj Singh was the icon player for the KXIP franchise in the inaugural IPL in 2008 and captained them in the same edition as well, taking them to the playoffs. However, his stint with KXIP saw him playing 51 games making 959 runs with 51 sixes and 75 fours, at a strike rate of 127.86.
Irfan Pathan had a successful stint with KXIP from 2008-10, where he played 42 games and made 603 runs and picked 47 wickets. He scored one half-century and his best bowling was 3/24. Pathan failed to continue having a good run in the tournament, last playing for Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions.
Left-arm spinner Akshar Patel has played 73 matches for KXIP from 2014-2018 and picked 69 wickets, as well scored 740 runs with the best of 4/21 and has picked a hat-trick as well for the franchise.
PIYUSH CHAWLA
M: 87| Wkts: 84| BB: 4/17| 4Ws: 1| 5Ws: 0 Piyush Chawla had played for only two franchises in the league before being picked by Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2020 auction. Apart from Kolkata Knight Riders, he played 87 matches for Kings XI Punjab from 2008-2013 and picked 84 wickets with the best bowling of 4/17.
Sandeep Sharma was a big find for the KXIP franchise and picked 71 wickets in 56 matches for them before becoming part of the SRH team. Sandeep Sharma also picked two four-wicket hauls as well. His swing and seam movement was more helped by the fast track at Mohali pitch.
Andrew Tye played for KXIP in 20 matches and picked 27 wickets with three-four wickets hauls and a best of 4/16. Injuries halted his progress in the franchise and he was released shortly after but had made his mark in the short while.
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) All-time XI:
KL Rahul, Shaun Marsh, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), David Miller, Glenn Maxwell, Yuvraj Singh (C), Irfan Pathan, Akshar Patel, Piyush Chawla, Sandeep Sharma, Andrew Tye