'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) have been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in every season, but have only one final appearance to show for. Over the years, however, some world-class overseas players have plied their trade for the franchise.
Even in upcoming IPL, under new captain KL Rahul, KXIP will look towards new acquisitions Sheldon Cottrell and Nicholas Pooran to perform at a high level.
KXIP's greatest overseas XI of all time in the IPL
Ignoring the IPL rule that states that no more than 4 non-Indian players can be part of a team, we attempt to assemble KXIP's greatest overseas playing XI of all time.
Openers: Chris Gayle, Shaun Marsh
After being released by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the destructive Chris Gayle has shown that he still has a lot left in the tank with his performances for KXIP. In 24 games, the West Indian has scored 858 runs at an average of 40.86. Gayle's partnership with KL Rahul at the top of the order has been highly productive, and will be one to watch out for in IPL 2020.
The leading run-scorer in KXIP history, Shaun Marsh is an obvious choice for an opening slot in this all-time overseas XI. With 2,477 runs in 71 games at an average of 39.95, the Australian is etched in the history of the franchise. The Orange Cap winner in the inaugural IPL season hasn't been part of the IPL since 2017, but remains one of the few players to have featured for only one club in the tournament.
With several thousand IPL runs under their belts, Gayle and Marsh make up the perfect opening combination in this all-time overseas XI.
Middle Order: Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, David Miller, George Bailey (c)
Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara is one of the greatest batsmen of all time, and his best spell in the IPL came at KXIP. With 1,009 runs in 37 games at an average of 31.53, the classy left-hander was one of the team's most important players in their initial years and even captained the side.
Sangakkara also played for the Deccan Chargers and the Sunrisers Hyderabad, but didn't fare very well at both teams. He dons the keeping gloves in this all-time XI.
Sangakkara's close friend and international teammate, Mahela Jayawardene comes in at No. 4 in this XI. The right-hander managed 837 runs in 36 games for KXIP at an average of 36.39, and much like Sangakkara, he captained the side in a few games.
David Miller is a player who has been a staple of the KXIP side over the past few years, although he recently moved to the Rajasthan Royals. The South African recorded 1,850 runs in 79 games at an average of 33.64, and played many blitzkriegs lower down the order. Although his form dipped towards the end of his spell at KXIP, he is one of the greatest players to have played for the team.
George Bailey is the captain of this all-time XI, despite the presence of 4 other players who have led KXIP in the IPL. The Australian steered his team to their first and only IPL final in 2014 and although they lost to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he is definitely KXIP's best-ever skipper.
In 30 games, the calm and composed Bailey scored 516 runs and even earned an international recall due to his performances in the IPL.
All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Azhar Mahmood
After a brief spell at the Delhi Capitals, Glenn Maxwell has returned to KXIP for IPL 2020. The destructive Australian, who has a stunning record in the UAE, will be one of the team's key players in the tournament with in both departments.
With 1,186 runs in 52 games, along with 10 wickets, Maxwell is a bonafide franchise legend. He shares the spin-bowling responsibility in this XI with Mujeeb Ur Rahman, in the absence of quality world-class spinners.
Azhar Mahmood is the fast-bowling all-rounder in this all-time overseas XI for KXIP. In 22 games for the team, he scored 382 runs and picked up 29 wickets, which is an excellent return. The Pakistan-born cricketer is one of the few true all-rounders that KXIP have had in the IPL.
Bowlers: Mitchell Johnson, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Andrew Tye
Australian quick Mitchell Johnson adds variety to the bowling attack of this all-time XI. The left-armer picked up 28 wickets in the 26 games that he played for KXIP, and was a key component of Bailey's side that reached the IPL final in 2014.
Afghanistan's Mujeeb Ur Rahman is the sole front-line spinner in this all-time XI, owing to the lack of better alternatives. The mystery spinner has scalped 17 wickets in the 16 games that he has played for KXIP, operating in the powerplay with admirable efficiency. On the spin-friendly tracks in the UAE, Mujeeb will be crucial to the team's fortnues.
2018 Purple Cap winner Andrew Tye rounds off the bowling attack of this all-time XI. The Australian, whose slower ball tormented opposition batsmen at the death, picked up 27 wickets in 20 games for KXIP. He narrowly edges out Ryan Harris in this team, and will play for RR in IPL 2020.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!
