IPL 2018: Four possible opening combinations for KXIP

So, the clock is ticking away for the IPL 2018 to start and as we enter the final week in the build-up to the marquee tournament. Today let us subtly analyze one of the enigmatic franchise in the history of the tournament- the Kings XI Punjab.

Over the years, every franchise has built its own city base with loyal fans thronging into the stadium match after match irrespective of how their favorite players perform. You cannot say the same for the Kings XI Punjab though as the franchise has struggled to find their identity as a whole, mainly because of lackluster performances they've displayed over the course of the past ten years.

They started well in 2008 where they made it into the top four and then another brilliant one in 2014, where they entered the finals for the very first time under George Bailey's leadership, with the likes of Miller, Maxwell, and Saha all coming to the fore. But, just as it seemed the franchise had finally settled itself, three unsuccessful stints followed in 2015, 2016 and 2017, forcing the team owners to retain just Axar Patel and start again with a clean slate.

Besides all the changes, one refreshing change that KXIP has brought about in their squad is that in Karun Nair, KL Rahul, Chris Gayle and Aaron Finch, they have a plethora of options when it comes to opening pair combinations.

Today, we will have a look at the possible opening combination that KXIP have at their disposal. Here's a look at the four possible opening combinations for KXIP:

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#4 Chris Gayle and KL Rahul

A ferocious marauder of the cricket ball

A farrago of destruction and finesse, Chris Gayle and KL Rahul can be an ideal combination at the top of the order for KXIP.

Both Rahul and Gayle have batted together in the past for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and will be aware of the psyche of each other, so important for an opening pair.

Rahul can play the role of a sheet anchor at the top

While Gayle can lay ferocious attacks on the opposition in the powerplay overs, Rahul with his technical expertise can play as an anchor to the innings while taking on the bowlers if the situation arises.

#3 Chris Gayle & Mayank Agarwal

Gayle has batted with Agarwal before for RCB

Now, this is one opening pair that has batted together in the past. Both Gayle and Mayank Agarwal have opened together for the RCB and the pair would know a thing or two about each other having spent so much time together in their previous franchise.

The 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle has been a perennial legend of the T20 format of the game, having terrorized bowlers all over the world with his panache for brutal power-hitting. The only batsman to accumulate in excess of 10,000 runs in the shortest format of the game, Gayle was almost unsold in this year's auction when KXIP eventually racked up the Jamaican for a base price of 2 crores in the 11th hour. On his day, Gayle can pulverize reputations into submission, as he has so often done in the past ten years of the IPL.

Agarwal will resume his partnership with Gayle at KXIP

Partnering Gayle will be the wonder boy of the 2017/18 Indian domestic season, Mayank Aggarwal. With 1160 runs in Ranji Trophy, 723 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and over 250 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament at a strike rate of 144.94, it's fair to say that Agarwal is in the form of his life and the left-right combination that he'll form with his former RCB partner can pave way for shenanigans of their middle-order to take over.

#2 Aaron Finch & KL Rahul

Finch is one of the best batsmen in white ball cricket currently

Aaron Finch will miss the opening encounter due to his wedding, but there is no doubt that the Australian will be a vital cog in Punjab's scheme of things. Blessed with brutal strength couple by an immaculate understanding of the situation of the game, Finch has established himself as one of the leading white-ball batsmen in the world.

Finch's presence will certainly add firepower to the KXIP line-up and though he had a poor IPL season last year with the Gujarat Lions, Finch's recent form in white-ball cricket has been imperious and he'd be hoping for a substantial IPL season this time around.

This IPL will be very important for KL Rahul

Partnering Finch at the top will be Karnataka and now former RCB batsman Lokesh Rahul. One of the few batsmen to hit a century in all three formats of the game, Rahul, when in form, is a delight to watch. One of the prime quality of Rahul is his versatility. He can a marauder of a cricket ball while at the same time he has the game to play according to the situation so pivotal in T20 format.

Rahul missed the last season due to injury and was racked up by KXIP for a whopping 11 crores and his association with Finch at the top might prove to be a cornerstone of KXIP's resurgence as an IPL franchise this year.

#1 Karun Nair and Mayank Agarwal

Nair has been in scintillating form this domestic season for Karnataka

Now, this might come as a surprise for KXIP fans, seeing Karun Nair open the innings with Mayank Agarwal. Let me put things into perspective, the opening pair of Nair and Agarwal delivered imperious performances for Karnataka in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.

Agarwal has been in Bradmanesque form this season

While Nair accumulated 379 runs (third on the list of top run-getters in the tournament) in nine matches at a strike rate of 173.85, Agarwal stroked at 144.94, amassing 258 runs in the process.

If the duo can replicate their performances for KXIP at the top of the order and maximize the powerplay overs, it will serve as the launch pad for their middle-order in Rahul, Finch, Yuvraj, and Miller thus giving them the license to express themselves at the backend of the innings.