The VIVO Indian Premier League is coming and Kings XI Punjab are already well equipped for the long fight with a stellar team of Kings on their side. What is yet to be decided, though, is who will lead the team into battle – the King of Kings, if you may. We take a look at some potential captaincy options for KXIP and assure you that all of them know WAY more than a certain Lord Commander, Jon Snow!
Comeback da King? : Yuvraj Singh
Chandigarh da puttar hai sadda Yuvraj Singh! You can’t talk Punjab cricket without mentioning this stylish southpaw at least once. A perfect blend of aggression and intelligence, Yuvi embodies the Punjabi spirit. He is a proven leader who has played for and captained KXIP in the initial seasons of the league, and can inspire confidence on and off the pitch. With his fighting mentality and vast experience, he is the perfect ingredient in our recipe for success – just like some makkhan with parathas!
Patel-a Peg Lagaake: Axar Patel
The only sher we retained, Axar Patel could be in line to undertake his first stint as captain of KXIP. With his youthful exuberance and vigour, he brings an energy to the side that is typical of any Punjabi outfit. A massive contributor in all aspects of the game, Axar is the perfect example of a player who can lead by example. He is fast becoming one of the key players for KXIP and has a bright future in Team India as well. Axar dil mein yeh khayal aata hai, ki yeh season Patel ka ho sakta hai!
Cricket ka Krrish: Chris Gayle
If Rakesh Roshan were to make a superhero film around cricket, he would probably title it ‘Chris’, and base it on the Universe Boss! This Jamaican has hit the most sixes and scored the most centuries in T20s over the world. If that does not make the opposition feel like they are participating in Khatron Ke Khiladi, then we don’t know what will! With a plethora of experience in T20 matches, and an aura of fear around him, Gayle is an ideal candidate to lead the side. After all, Gayle storm ki garaj sunkar acche acche baras jaate hain!
Naam se hi WIN-ner: Ravichandran Ashwin
Jab naam mein hai ‘Win’, toh jeet pakki samjho! Ashwin might not come with a lot of captaincy experience like some of the other contenders, but when it comes to accurately reading the game, this intelligent tweaker is right up there. With a decade worth of IPL experience under his belt, including two seasons as a part of the winning side, Ashwin is no stranger to tasting success, and also replicating it time and again. A premium off-spinner, Ashwin knows how to ‘turn’ things around when his side is down, which is a huge asset in T20 matches. Here’s hoping that coconut mein lassi milaake ‘Win’ ka swaad aa jaaye!
Trophy karayega clinch?: Aaron Finch
Finch does not flinch, kyunki confidence hai uske vich! The way this swashbuckling batsman from Down Under takes situations head-on proves that he is someone who leads from the front – the makings of a true Punjabi. A proven track record as an opener and middle order batsman alike also means Finch is someone who can bring forth his flexibility and get the best out of the squad. With prior captaincy experience for Australia, as well as for Pune Warriors in the IPL, taking on the KXIP captaincy mantle won’t make him feel like a naan without butter!
Kya yeh karega rule?: KL Rahul
He is young, he is dashing, and he is bold – the perfect blend for a Kings XI Punjab leader. With some superb credentials, this dynamite can blow up the opposition no matter where he bats in the line-up. A credible wicket-keeper too, you can expect him to don the gloves for the side – and keepers have traditionally made good captains as history tells us ever so often. With age on his side, will KL Rahul take the next step in his career by leading this side? Time will tell us eventually, but we know for a fact, that KL Rahul sabko chata sakta hai dhul!
