4 reasons why KXIP might clinch their maiden IPL title this year

The Kings XI Punjab have been the perennial under-achievers in the IPL. 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.

But, just as it seemed, the franchise had finally settled itself as 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.

In the auctions that ensued back in January, KXIP managed to assemble an enviable squad boasting a plethora of match-winners and a strong core of T20 specialists.

In this article, let's have a look at the four possible reasons why KXIP might achieve IPL glory this season.

#1 A plethora of opening-pair combinations

Gayle will turn up for KXIP this year

Amongst the sea of changes that KXIP has made to their squad, one thing that immediately demands attention is the sea of opening-pair combinations that they have at their disposal.

Agarwal has in the past opened with Gayle for RCB

KXIP have perennially struggled with opening combinations over the years but this season they have multiple options in Chris Gayle, KL Rahul, Aaron Finch, Karun Nair, and the wonder boy of the 2017-18 domestic season, Mayank Agarwal.

#3 A power-packed middle order

Finch can provide stability in the middle-order

Apart from a sea of options at the top of the order, KXIP boasts of a powerful middle-order. In Aaron Finch, Yuvraj Singh, David Miller, and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, Punjab have some of the breathtaking power hitters in the game currently.

Yuvraj will back with KXIP this year

If the opening combination can give the Kings a steady start at the top, then the shenanigans of the middle-order can take over, making their batting line-up a nightmare for the opposition bowlers.

#2 A strong Indian contingent

Agarwal has been in good form in the domestic season

If we observe the most successful franchises over the ten years of the IPL, amongst the plethora of different reasons for their success, one common denominator is the presence and the consistent performances of domestic Indian players.

It is indeed a basic tenet on which the success of IPL franchise hinges and no one would acknowledge that better than Kings XI Punjab.

Nair has been in imperious form this season

Over the years, Punjab have struggled due to lack of a strong Indian core and it was evident from their strategy in the auctions. In Nair, Rahul, Agarwal, Manoj Tiwary, and Axar Patel (the only player to be retained by the franchise), the Kings have managed to assemble an enviable core of local Indian players and it might just prove to be fillip that propels the team to glory this time around.

#4 X-Factor

One thing that differentiates a good team from a champion unit is the presence of an X-Factor in the side.

If you see all the perennial successful franchises in the IPL over the years, the presence of an X-factor serves as a common denominator in their surge towards glory. CSK had DJ Bravo, Mumbai had the Pandya brothers, Sunrisers had Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and KKR had Sunil Narine and Andre Russell in their ranks. KXIP had Glenn Maxwell in their ranks when they qualified for the IPL finals in 2014.

So, this leads to the question as to who is KXIP's X-Factor for the 2018 season? One name that instantly comes to mind is Australia's all-rounder Marcus Stoinis. Stoinis shot into fame when he pulverized the Kiwi attack into submission with a breathtaking 146 at Auckland. His blitz earned him an IPL contract with the Kings XI Punjab.

Despite the franchise finishing at the bottom, Stoinis made a sizeable impact, scoring 146 runs in five innings at 135.18 while scalping eight wickets in the process. How Stoinis fares this season, might just define KXIP's campaign of 2018.