Published 17:29 IST, November 6th 2019
IPL Auction 2020: 3 Indian players who could be released by KXIP
With the IPL Auction 2020 approaching, the KXIP camp will have a lot to decide on which players to retain and whom to let go. Here are three such players.
Kings XI Punjab are yet to taste success in the Indian Premier League. The team came close to lifting the championship but fell agonisingly short against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2014 summit clash. Since then, Kings XI Punjab have gone through a lot of changes in personnel and they’re again hitting the rebuild button.
IPL Auction 2020: KXIP set to rebuild
Kings XI Punjab finished 6th in the points table, missing out on the top 4 on net run rate. The franchise has not been able to match their heights of 2014 and have constantly struggled to put up a fight to make it to the play-offs. With the appointment of Anil Kumble as head coach, KXIP would hope that they can turn their fortunes around. Here, let’s take a look at 3 Indian players KXIP could release ahead of the IPL Auction 2020.
1. Karun Nair
Karun Nair’s riches-to-rags story has affected Kings XI Punjab in the IPL. Since becoming the only second Indian to score a Test triple-ton in 2016, Nair has seen his stocks drop rapidly. He could not find a place in the playing 11 last season as the management preferred young Sarfaraz Khan due to his quick scoring abilities. He played just one game in the entire tournament and is likely to be released by Kings XI.
2. Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy was picked up by the Kings XI Punjab for a whopping Rs.8.4 cr, making him the most expensive player in the auction. The Tamil Nadu leg-spinner, known for his variations, played only one game in an injury-plagued last season. Kings XI might be tempted to release him and might buy him back for a lower cost.
3. Ankit Rajpoot
Ankit Rajpoot played only 4 games in the IPL 2019, picking up 3 wickets at a dismal economy rate of 9.5 runs per over. The former Kolkata Knight Riders pacer, who picked up 5/14 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018, was replaced by Arshdeep Singh later in the tournament. The Uttar Pradesh pacer is likely to face the axe with options like Ishan Porel and Roosh Kalaria available in the auction pool.
Updated 18:01 IST, November 6th 2019