Hyderabad: Kings XI Punjab failed to make it to the play-offs despite performing very well at the latter half of the 13th edition of Indian Premier League. They had lost too many close matches in the first half of the tournament that came to haunt them in the crucial time.
However, their skipper KL Rahul, the Orange Cap holder with 670 runs, put up a bold face saying they had a lot of positives. With the next IPL set to take place in five months’ time, teams are already mulling their strategies for the players’ auctions. Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra wants Kings XI to get rid of their foreign players Glenn Maxwell and Sheldon Cottrell, who failed to perform. “They should leave out Sheldon Cottrell, they should leave Hardus Viljoen also if they are not playing him, and they should leave Maxwell as well. Hooda did not get too many chances and Glenn Maxwell got plenty of opportunities. He didn’t disappoint a little, he was a huge disappointment. The Kings XI Punjab missed a trick or two with their selections.”
“Maxwell’s lack of form was a big problem, overseas bowlers another big problem, and the Indian lower middle order where Hooda actually did well and gave them a chance in the last match,” he added.