Kings XI Punjab are at the bottom of the table currently, with just 2 points from 5 games. They have lost a couple of matches that they should have won, and should have been among the table toppers. But that has not been the case. There are a few reasons for the current situation of KXIP in the IPL 2020 points table. Have a look.
Bad luck
In their first IPL match this season against Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab lost a match that they actually had won. The match ended in a tie before Punjab lost the super over. The match would not have gone into a super over if Punjab had luck on their side. They were docked 1 run for running a run short by the on-field umpire, but replays showed the Punjab batsman had made his ground, and it was an error in judgement to dock 1 run from their total, and eventually, Punjab failed to score 1 more run for a win and ended up tying the match that they had won. And in super over, they just collapsed.
Liabilities in the squad
Although Punjab are hoping some of their investments such as Glenn Maxwell will come good, the truth is that they are a liability to the squad. Maxwell has failed to inspire from the bat, and his bowling has been at best pedestrian. It’s foolhardy to play Maxwell as an all-rounder. His hard-hitting skills are on the wane, and he is no longer the feared batsman. Now, he is a walking wicket for any team. But Punjab have high regards for Maxwell. Poor team selection has not been doing Punjab any favor.
Lack of penetrative death bowling
In the match against Rajasthan Royals, Punjab had the upper hand as they were defending a record total in IPL. But a little-known all-rounder in Rahul Tewatia flayed Punjab bowling in the death overs, especially of Sheldon Cottrell against whom he slammed 5 sixes in an over, to steer his team to an unlikely win from an impossible situation. The lack of penetrative death bowling by Punjab saw them lose a match that they had a firm grip on. Even an experienced bowler in Mohammed Shami forgot the basics and conceded runs in the death as Royals raced to a record successful chase.
Pressure on top-order due to a shaky middle order
A lot rests on KL Rahul and Mayank Aggarwal to give Punjab a great start every time. In fact, they have to make sure one of the two batsmen stay till the end as Punjab had an unreliable and brittle middle-order who have failed to do justice to their talent. The likes of Karun Nair, Maxwell have not inspired much confidence and piled pressure on Rahul-Mayank pair to come good every time.
Lack of self-belief
There is no dearth of talent in Punjab squad, but the lack of self-belief that they could win has hampered their progress in the tournament. They have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and they have not been able to finish off games, while another equally poor-performing team like CSK got their form back against Rahul and Co. It seems Punjab have resigned to the fate of being perennial losers and could end up the first team to be out of the race for play-offs.
Cover Credits: IPLT20