Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) Will Entertain For Some Time But Will Not Win IPL 2020: Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has opened up on the weakness of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) ahead of IPL 2020. It’s merely 24 hours before the 13th edition of IPL gets underway with the predictions still infusing by several experts and plaudits. Sunil Gavaskar backs Punjab’s batting line-up to do the bulk of work and reckons their bowling as their blindspot.

Also Read: Wasim Jaffer Explains Why KXIP Appointed KL Rahul As Captain

Kings XI Punjab not only changed their skipper from Ravichandran Ashwin to KL Rahul but also overhauled their coaching staff. On the batting front, they have the likes of KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Glenn Maxwell, James Neesham, Mandeep Singh, and Sarfaraz Khan that constitutes as a formidable batting line-up. On the other hand, their bowling line-up has credible candidates too like Mohammed Shami, Sheldon Cottrell, Ishan Porel, Chris Jordan, and Ravi Bishnoi.

According to Sunil Gavaskar, KXIP’s weakness on this occasion is their bowling and would depend a lot on their batsmen. Hence, the batsmen need to make runs to hand their bowlers enough to defend; otherwise, the franchise will suffer the same fate as last year. Thus, he expects KXIP to show some glimpses but not win the competition.

“This time, the weakness in the Kings XI Punjab squad is their bowling. They have very good batsmen and will depend on them a lot. They will have to score well in every game and give their bowlers a target that they can defend. Because if the batsmen do not make enough runs, then their fate will be similar to last year. They will entertain for some time but will not win,” Gavaskar told Sports Tak.

Sunil Gavaskar backs this player from KXIP to score heaps of runs:

The 70-year old further said that young batsman Sarfaraz Khan would have plenty of runs under his belt, considering his blistering domestic form and prefers him batting at number five. The 125-Test veteran added that although it has been a gap of 8-9 months, his confidence would be on a high and thrive on these pitches. KXIP, who finished sixth last year, will begin their journey by facing Delhi Capitals on the 20th of September in Dubai.

“I will send Sarfaraz Khan to bat at No.5. Sarfaraz has shown brilliant form in the last domestic season by scoring a triple century and following up with a double century. I agree that there has been a gap of 8-9 months between that season and this season. But the kind of confidence that he will have, I feel that he will score a lot of runs on these pitches,” he added.

Also Read: Kevin Pietersen Wants Delhi Capitals To Win IPL 2020