IPL 2017: Kings XI Punjab's journey from 2008 to 2017
Since the formation of the Kings XI Punjab franchise in 2008, the campaign of the Punjab-based side has been a roller-coaster one. Playing all their home games at the PCA Stadium in Mohali and more recently in Dharamsala, KXIP have managed to win only 63 of their 132 matches.
Following a hard-fought battle, the Punjab-based franchise was purchased for $76 million through an association of Dabur group’s Mohit Burman (46% stake), Preity Zinta(23% stake), Ness Wadia(23% stake) and Karan Paul, who holds a minor stake from the buy. The team is one of just two in the IPL to have a Bollywood quotient.
The team with the most number of sponsors till date, KXIP has also been represented by nine different captains. Over the course of the nine seasons, KXIP’s best performance came in IPL 2014 when they finished runners-up while they entered the playoffs on only one other occasion in IPL 2008.
Extra Cover: Kings XI Punjab team 2017: Full list of players bought by Kings XI Punjab
Here, we try to chart KXIP’s changes year-wise, right from the sponsors to the captains, while giving a brief description of their campaign.
IPL 2008-2009
IPL 2008: Shaun Marsh’s pyrotechnics
Sponsors: Reebok (Kit), Spice (Shirt front), Kotak (Shirt back)
Captain: Yuvraj Singh
Position: 3rd
In a heated inaugural auction, Irfan Pathan and Brett Lee made the big bucks, being bought for USD 950,000 and USD 900,000 respectively as the Yuvraj Singh-led Kings XI bore the look of a strong team with the likes of Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara bolstering the line-up.
Throughout the season, Shaun Marsh created headlines with his stunning prowess with the bat, amassing 616 from just 11 matches while Santhakumaran Sreesanth led the bowling with 19 wickets from 11 games. Fueled by Marsh’s pyrotechnics, Kings XI made it to the semi-finals but lost to an inspired Chennai Super Kings by nine wickets.
IPL 2009: Absence of foreign talent hurts the campaign
Sponsors: Reebok (Kit), Emirates (Shirt front), 7 UP (Shirt back)
Position: 5th
Prior to the start of the tournament, the Kings XI Punjab found a new sponsor in the form of Emirates Airlines, which signed a three-year deal with the franchise. Under skipper Yuvraj Singh, who captained in the first edition as well, Punjab endured a rather rocky season with seven wins and seven losses.
In the absence of Marsh due to injury, none of the other batsmen could step up to the plate. Punjab found the path tough but a couple of late wins helped their campaign until a loss to Chennai Super Kings in their last league game smashed all their dreams of claiming a semi-final spot.