Led by Yuvraj Singh, and coached by a rather serene and former Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody, the Kings XI Punjab team played really good cricket in the last season to overcome most and enter the semi-finals with relative ease. One bad in the semis at Wankhede and they were knocked out, yet, it was easy to see that they were one of the most graceful teams of the previous season. In fact, the Kings were one of the teams that did not see too many dismissals from their support either, sending out the positive vibes amongst the team.
Whether they would be able to live up to the expectations that the owners, Priety Zinta and the rest have from them needs to be seen over the second edition, but one thing is for certain; Yuvraj Singh will need to play a big enough role in the same. He will need to overcome indifferent form in New Zealand, bowl with effectiveness of a regular part-timers – however oxymoronish that may have sounded – and most importantly, lead from the front.
This time’s auction saw the Kings XI Punjab pick Ravi Bopara in their team, along with Jerome Taylor, but the latter met with an accident and was replaced by South African pace bowler Yusuf Abdullah. Abdullah’s inclusion would be a great shot in the Kings’ arm as he relishes the conditions back home and has an economy to send the green-envy down any bowler’s spine!
From those who were also present last year, Shaun Marsh will be a player to look out for though an injury has kept him out for most part of the Aussie season. His return to fitness is a bitter-sweet pill for the franchise, as he has been chosen by the national side to play against the Pakistanis in UAE. Simon Katich is a test-specialist and will feature in most matches – at least till Marsh rejoins – while Luke Pomersbach would love to use that long handle of his.
Another casualty that could see the owners fretting in disgust is the inclusion of Brett Lee in the Australian team, and the injury to S. Sreesanth which means that both will not feature in the first three weeks of the tournament. This means that the team from Punjab will need to rely strongly on their all-round cricketers like Irfan Pathan and James Hopes to deliver with the ball.
Kumar Sangakkara may just be the batsman-wicket-keeper who could turn the tide for the Kings, while Ramesh Powar could probably be the under-rated bowler of the tournament if his fitness allows him a game or two!
*Players to look out for’: Yuvraj Singh, Shaun March*Dark Horse Player’: Ramesh Powar