IPL: Kings XI Punjab's first ever IPL XI- Where are they now?
Kings XI Punjab lost their maiden IPL match against Chennai Super Kings in a high scoring encounter.
Kings XI Punjab along with Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore are the only active IPL franchises to have not yet won the IPL yet, despite being the part of the tournament since the inaugural edition.
In the ten year history of IPL, Kings XI Punjab have qualified for the playoffs only twice in 2008 and 2014, with their best finish being in IPL 2014 where they finished as runners-up to Kolkata Knight Riders.
IPL 2008 started on a bad note for Kings XI Punjab as they lost their starting two matches but recovered to finish second in the points table thereby reaching the semifinals, where they lost to Chennai Super Kings.
Kings XI Punjab played their maiden IPL match against Chennai Super Kings on 19 April 2008. KXIP did not have a good match, as CSK batsmen batting first smashed Punjab's bowlers to all corners of the stadium and put on the then highest total of 240 runs in 20 overs on the back of a brilliant century by Michael Hussey.
Punjab's batsmen put up on a brave fight and scored 207 runs in their 20 overs, thus losing the high scoring encounter by 33 runs.
Currently, only two players who took the field for the Preity Zinta co-owned franchise in their maiden IPL match against Chennai are playing in the IPL, with only one of those players reuniting with Kings XI Punjab franchise in this year's IPL, after a long gap of 8 years.
So, let us have a look at the playing XI of KXIP that took the field in their maiden IPL encounter.
#1 Karan Goel
Former Punjab batsman, Karan Goel opened the innings for Kings XI Punjab in their maiden IPL match with James Hopes and scored a quickfire 24 runs off 19 balls by hitting two fours and one six. Overall in IPL 2008, Goel played just 6 matches and scored 75 runs at a poor average of 12.5, with a strike rate of 105.63.
Goel made his first-class debut for Punjab in 2005-06 Ranji Trophy season. However, Goel failed to put up consistent performances for Punjab in the domestic circuit and played his last first-class match in 2012 at the age of 25.
In IPL, Goel played only for Kings XI Punjab from 2008-2010. Currently, his whereabouts are unknown.
#2 James Hopes
Former Australia all-rounder, James Hopes smashed a quickfire 71 runs off just 33 balls in Kings XI Punjab's maiden IPL match, but was expensive with the ball as he conceded 53 runs from his 4 overs but picked up the big wicket of MS Dhoni.
Hopes did not have a good IPL 2008, and scored 221 runs in 11 matches with the bat at an average of 20.09, with a strike rate of 149.32 and picked up just 7 wickets at an expensive economy rate of 9.85.
Hopes had a very short international career in Australian ODI and T20I teams from 2005 to 2010, due to his inconsistent performances and last played for Australia in October 2010. In IPL apart from Kings XI Punjab, Hopes also played for Delhi Daredevils in 2011 and now defunct Pune Warriors India in 2012 and is currently the bowling coach of the Delhi outfit in IPL 2018.