Strengths
Top-order batting and seam bowling. In KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Glenn Maxwell and Nicolas Pooran, the Kings XI Punjab have a lot of firepower in their batting in the top five.
Any of them, on their day, can win a game on their own. Maxwell revelled in the conditions that were on offer in the UAE in 2014 and runs from his bat will be critical if KXIP are to do well.
With the ball, they have arguably India’s best seam bowler today in Mohammad Shami and supporting him will be the likes of Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Jordan and others, who will form a potent fast bowling attack for the side.
Weaknesses
Middle-order batting. While KXIP possesses gunn batsmen at the top, their worries lie in the 5–7 slot. Their best line-up could have Maxwell batting at 4, Pooran at 5, but their 6 and 7 could be a worry.
In such circumstances is where they will hope for the likes of Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan etc to step up and deliver when the chances come knocking on their doors.
Opportunities
This IPL provides Rahul with a huge opportunity to show his leadership qualities to the world. The franchise has taken a punt on him, despite having the opportunity to purchase a leader when the auctions were on in December last year but chose not to take it.
But the tournament gives Rahul a chance to add a new dimension to his game, one that could help him become a better cricketer.
The tournament also presents a chance to Anil Kumble. In the past, with the Mumbai Indians, he tasted success serving the role of a mentor between 2013 and 2015. Now he has the opportunity to replicate that with KXIP, albeit in a bigger role.
Threats
The KXIP possess a formidable top-order, brimming with firepower. However, there is one other side to that. If they opt to play Chris Gayle and he does not give them consistency, then they are left with the difficult decision of dropping him and finding someone, either to open with Rahul or at that 6 or 7 position to lengthen the batting.
Maxwell has the potential to be a game-changer, but he can blow hot and blow cold. KXIP will want him to blow more of the former than the latter.
They also must hope their spinners do well for them. The likes of Mujeeb Ur Rehman, K Gowtham, J Suchith and few others will hold the key for them if decks in the UAE turn out to be spin-friendly.
