IPL 2020: 5 biggest disappointments for KXIP in IPL 13

KXIP made a big turnaround from their earlier poor streak to winning 5 out of their last 7 matches.

The Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) franchise had a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde sort of IPL 2020. They were captained by KL Rahul for the first time and started off by losing 6 games out of 7 in the first half of the tournament.

When they looked down and out of the race for the playoffs, KXIP turned a new leaf and won the next five matches in a row out of 7 and reignited the hopes for playoff qualification. However, the equation was not in their favor and a loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their final league match ended their IPL 13.

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Though they had to be proud of their resurgence of sorts after the streak of losses in the first half of the tournament, they were badly hit by some losses in which many of their stars, particularly foreign players, didn’t perform as per expectations.

While KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal excelled with the bat and Mohammad Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, and M Ashwin held the front on the bowling side; the middle order seemed to be non-existent with some of the foreigners looking totally out of their elements.

Therefore, TEAM COC takes a look at five players whom KXIP team management gave multiple chances to come good, but they only returned with disappointing performances in the IPL 2020.

Check out the 5 biggest disappointments for KXIP in IPL 13

K GOWTHAM

K Gowtham was bought with much fanfare by the KXIP team for a whopping sum of INR 6.2 cr. This was on the basis of his exploits for the Rajasthan Royals for whom he had opened the bowling on numerous occasions since IPL 2018 and had played some blinder of innings coming lower down the order.

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He was expected to performing similar roles for the KXIP team as well.  But he managed to play just two games scoring 42 runs and picking 1 wicket, giving away 84 runs in 8 overs he bowled in the IPL 2020. It was a poor performance from someone who is a genuine big-hitter and a decent spinner to boot for and KXIP was looking at him as a finisher of sorts and someone who could bowl in powerplay overs.

SHELDON COTTRELL

Sheldon Cottrell was one of the hottest players in the IPL 2020 auction and after a bidding war, KXIP bought him for INR 8.5 cr. This was on the basis of his performance for the West Indies in the 2019 World Cup and his ability to swing the ball in all conditions.

Cottrell was to take the new ball with Mohammad Shami and was expected to give KXIP some early wickets. Cottrell picked 6 wickets in 6 matches he played, giving away runs at an economy of 8.80. Much of that economy was due to the 30 runs he gave away in one over against Rajasthan Royals in a match in Sharjah.

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That over itself hurt the reputation of Cottrell, as Rahul Tewatia hit five sixes in the over, four in a row as KXIP lost a match that they should have won as before that over, RR needed 51 runs in 18 balls. But that over turned the ride in favor of RR, who won the match and pocketed two easy points.

Cottrell kind of lost some confidence after that match and didn't make the playing XI on many occasions after that match.

MUJEEB UR RAHMAN

Mujeeb Ur Rahman had been one of the best spinners in IPL previously, often opening the bowling and picking early wickets at a good economy for KXIP. However, in IPL 2020, he managed to play just two games and went for 83 runs in 8 overs without taking a single wicket.

Though KXIP could have used him earlier in the IPL 2020 as well, going for those many runs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai grounds, which are quite big compared to Sharjah, proved to be his undoing.

JIMMY NEESHAM

Jimmy Neesham made his way back into the IPL after 6 long years as he was bought by KXIP for INR 50 lakhs. Neesham had done well for New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup almost winning them the trophy in the final against England at Lord’s.

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He came to UAE with lots of expectations given his reputation, but managed just 2 wickets in 5 matches and made 19 runs in total. It was in crunch times that Neesham failed and his death overs bowling was not up to the par.

The KXIP management kept swapping him with Chris Jordan and that didn’t help Neesham with his confidence also and it remains to be seen if he will be retained for the IPL 2021.

GLENN MAXWELL

However, the biggest disappointment of all IPL and not just for KXIP proved to be Australia’s Glenn Maxwell. He was bought for a whopping INR 10.75 cr in the IPL 2020 auction, and this was after he had pulled out of IPL 2019 to prepare for the World Cup and to give the Test cricket a shot.

However, with his inability to nail down a spot in the Australian Test team and with the ICC T20 World Cup on the horizon, Maxwell put his name in the auction and was bought by the team, he once captained.

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Much was expected from the ‘big show’, as he has scored his runs in IPL at a strike-rate in the higher 150s. He was going to be KXIP’s designated finisher with the bat and was expected to turn his arm over for a few overs. However, he proved to be a complete dud, scoring just 108 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 101.88 and an average of 15.42, with the best score of 32.

But what was the most disappointing thing about Maxwell was that for a batsman who has created his reputation on hitting big and lots of sixes in his career, he managed to hit none in the 13 matches he played in IPL 2020, and also managed just 9 fours in total.

It was a huge fall for Maxwell, who was backed continuously by the KXIP management and captain KL Rahul to come good, but only returned with disappointment not only for his backers but for the fans as well.