IPL 2018, KXIP vs KKR: What should KXIP do to get back on track?
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) under skipper Ravichandran Ashwin started this year’s IPL really well. All bases seemed to be covered, and they certainly looked on course to make it to the playoffs. But with one win in their last three games, their campaign is going through a downward slide.
After returning from a one week break, the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle is yet to fire. KXIP would surely hope that their star batsmen fires in this crucial fixture against another team looking to get their campaign back on track, KKR.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s move to push himself up the order last game against RR didn’t please too many people. Apparently, team owner Preity Zinta was not happy with this decision and questioned batting coach Virender Sehwag over that dubious decision.
So, for KXIP and R Ashwin to silence any criticism hurled at them, they would want to go out in their home ground Indore and put on a good show.
Here are a couple of suggestions on what KXIP can do to get back on track:
Don't tamper too much with their middle-order
What cost KXIP’s chances against RR was the complete lack of support KL Rahul. Whilst KL Rahul was blazing away, he just didn’t get any support from his other team members. Karun Nair, Akshdeep Nath, Manoj Tiwary and even Marcus Stoinis couldn’t too much.
Despite that being an issue, KXIP need to back these players. They should show faith in Mayank Agarwal and reinstate him into the team, possibly at one down position. Agarwal has had a fabulous Ranji trophy season heading into the IPL but sadly he hasn’t played to his potential for KXIP as yet.
The experiment to promote R Ashwin should be avoided henceforth. They should stick to the players who have played in their team for all the games.
With Marcus Stoinis earmarked as the finisher for the side, the likes of Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal and Manoj Tiwary should play the stabilising role in the middle-order, who can carry forward the good work done by the openers, and also aid the likes of Marcus Stoinis and Axar Patel to finish innings.
R Ashwin should stick to the basics and not experiment too much
What has been the most impressive aspect of R Ashwin’s captaincy so far is his strategic thinking. He knows when to opt for a certain bowler and the fields that would suit that bowler. He thinks from a bowler’s perspective, which is refreshing to see as generally we have captains who are batsmen or wicket-keepers.
Ashwin has kept it simple and stuck to the basics, and things have worked smoothly. A couple of decisions was surprising from their defeat to RR. Why would you drop someone like Ankit Rajpoot even if the pitch conditions may not suit his style of bowling? And also, why pick Mohit Sharma over an impressive Barinder Sran.
Those decisions didn’t fall in the template of R Ashwin’s captaincy so far in this year’s IPL. He has been really impressive in the way he’s groomed and supported Barinder Sran and Ankit Rajpoot, two upcoming fast bowlers.
Heading into this important match against KKR, he should go back to his style of captaincy, which has helped KXIP attain success in the past.