News Analysis India

Tag: Punjab Kings

  • Glad to have some foreign firepower in bowling line-up: Punjab Kings’ Anil Kumble

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Anil Kumble, Director of Cricket Operations, Punjab Kings has said he is really pleased with how his side has managed to add some foreign firepower in their bowling.

    In the players’ auction held in February this year, Punjab Kings managed to rope in Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith and the unit also has the experience of Chris Jordon to fall back on this season.

    Punjab Kings will play their first game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 later on Monday against the Rajasthan Royals here at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

    “Rajasthan Royals are a very good side, they have really some big hitters in their team, we need to be aware of that. Obviously, we want to start with a win, last year we came real close to win the first game but this time around we want to cross that line. The important aspect for us was to get foreign firepower in the bowling department and I am really glad that we have got Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith backing Chris Jordon. I am really happy with the options we have,” said Kumble in a video posted on the official Twitter handle of Punjab Kings.

    Kumble also revealed that his side has added a mental conditioning coach to look after the welfare of the players in the ongoing season of the IPL.

    “It’s been really good, the last couple of weeks. It feels as though just the extension of Dubai, it does not feel like that I have been away from the team for that long. So overall we have had really good intense sessions over the last two weeks. We had some simulations done, match simulation scenarios, and practiced really hard. We have also included a mental conditioning coach who is coming into the squad. I think that is important,” said Kumble.

    Last year, Punjab Kings had finished at the 6th place in the points table and now the side would look to change its fortunes around this season under the leadership of KL Rahul.

  • Lungi Ngidi, Jason Behrendorff to miss game against Punjab Kings, confirms CSK coach Stephen Fleming

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed that pacer Lungi Ngidi and Jason Behrendorff will not be available for the side in the next game against Punjab Kings.

    “Ngidi won’t be available. He won’t be arriving for the next game. So losing Josh Hazlewood, which was the plan to have him available for these games is a blow simply as an option up front. Ngidi will be arriving soon. Behrendorff would be following that. [Bowling] it’s an area that we are probably short on. But we still look at the Indian bowlers and we have international bowler Sam Curran,” Fleming said in a post-match press conference.

    CSK suffered a seven-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals in their first match of the campaign on Saturday. Fleming backed the batters for guiding to a total of 188 despite losing the openers early in the game.

    Suresh Raina (54) smashed a sensational fifty in his comeback game before Sam Curran’s (34) masterclass in the death overs powered CSK to 188/7 in their 20 overs.

    “It wasn’t bad when you lose wickets a little bit early and still manages to get to 188, that’s pretty good going. So, the intent with the bat was pretty good. The conditions changed, dew and a little bit of rain made things difficult in the second innings. They played really well but 190 on this ground is still reasonably competitive we just needed to bowl better,” he said.

    CSK coach heaped praises on Raina and said his form is a positive side for the side.

    “It’s really good, considering the cricket and where he has come from. It was an outstanding innings. We put Moeen Ali up as an aggressor and also used Suresh’s aggressive role to get to play some cricket and find some form. But after playing 2-3 shots, he really got going. It’s a really positive sign for us. I liked the way we turned it on after losing wickets when the wicket was tacky. We just weren’t able to create chances with the ball, which is really disappointing,” Fleming said.

    On playing the first five matches at the same venue due to the Covid-19, Fleming feels that it is going to give a better understanding of the conditions to the side.

    “We will learn a lot from being here for another 4 games. But don’t underestimate how much it takes to change the philosophy of the team. We are very much a Chennai-based side,” Fleming said.

    “We saw Mumbai struggle to a degree in Chennai the other night. They have got a challenge on how to change their tactics in Chennai and our tactics have to be a little bit better with the ball in Mumbai. So, it’s one of the quirks of this competition in this Covid-19 age and we just have to find a way. It’s going to be high-scoring games in Mumbai and toss might play a big part,” he added.

    CSK will next take on Punjab Kings at Wankhede Stadium on April 16.

  • Will help KL Rahul to make team better, says Punjab Kings’ Moises Henriques

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Moises Henriques led Sydney Sixers to a title win in Big Bash League (BBL) in February but the Australian all-rounder shied away from taking the credit as he feels each and every member of the squad played an integral role during the tournament.

    Henriques said a successful team needs players who are ready to help their captain when required and the same was the case with him in the BBL.

    The Australian all-rounder, who will be seen in action for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is ready to do a similar thing for his skipper KL Rahul.

    “Just because you’re the captain, it doesn’t mean you run the show. I had 10 other very good players, very good leaders out there helping me,” the Punjab Kings’ website quoted Henriques as saying.

    “And now I’ll be trying to do the same for KL (Rahul), whether it be while playing or watching the game. It is about trying to make the team get better from wherever I may be,” he added.

    Henriques highlighted how good fielding switches the game in a team’s favour in the shortest format of the game.

    “I think fielding is a huge part of the game that doesn’t get the praise and the acknowledgement it deserves. A lot of the best teams I’ve played with have had really good fielding setups,” said Henriques.

    “If you can constantly save 5-10 runs in the field whilst the other teams are probably losing a few runs on the field everytime. If you take that half catch or the odd run-out chance, you do it multiple times in a season and it will probably get you two or three extra wins through the course of a season,” explained the 34-year-old.

    Punjab Kings will play against Rajasthan Royals in their first game on April 12 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. 

  • Shahrukh Khan reminds me a bit of Kieron Pollard, says Punjab Kings head coach Anil Kumble

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Punjab Kings head coach Anil Kumble has lavished praise on Tamil Nadu cricketer Shahrukh Khan and compared the swashbuckling batsman to West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard.

    Pollard, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is one of the most dangerous batsmen in the shortest format of the game. Kumble feels the rookie has a similar skill set as that of Pollard.

    “He (Shahrukh ) reminds me a bit of Pollard actually. When I was with Mumbai Indians, Pollard in the nets was dangerous. I used to bowl a bit (in the nets), and the first thing I used to tell him was don’t hit straight,” Kumble said in a video posted on Punjab Kings’ Twitter.

    “Here I’m not even trying. I’m a lot older now, and the body doesn’t take the bowling anymore. So, I’m not going to bowl at Shahrukh, for sure,” he added.

    Uncapped Shahrukh was bagged by Punjab Kings in the IPL mini-auction in February. Shahrukh had his base price of Rs 20 lakh but he went to Punjab Kings for Rs 5.25 crore. Delhi Capitals, RCB, and Punjab Kings all made the bids for him, but in the end, the winning bid was made by Punjab Kings.

    Shahrukh was in remarkable form in this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and he had a major hand in Tamil Nadu winning the title for the second time.

    Meanwhile, when it comes to bowling, the pace-bowling attack of Punjab Kings has a classy look to it with Mohammad Shami leading the pack in the company of Chris Jordan, Jhye Richardson, Arshdeep Singh and Riley Meredith.

    The spin-attack will be headed by U19 World Cup star Ravi Bishnoi while Murugan Ashwin and Saurabh Kumar are also in the squad to extend their support. Punjab Kings will play against Rajasthan Royals in their first game on April 12 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

  • IPL 2021 SWOT analysis: Pace concerns addressed but do Punjab Kings have same depth in spin department?

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: With a new name and a stronger squad, Punjab Kings will be hoping for a change of fortunes this season after spending big money on addressing their death bowling concerns and beefing up a not-so-inspiring middle-order.

    Punjab Kings finished sixth last season but missed out on a play-off spot narrowly after bouncing back strongly with five wins on the trot.

    They lost games they should have won and if that controversial short run call did not go against them in their tournament-opener against Delhi Capitals, they would have ended up sneaking into the top-four.

    Lack of support to lead pacer Mohammed Shami and the big-hitting Glenn Maxwell not firing also hurt their chances, areas they feel they have addressed this season.

    Here is a look at the team that will open its campaign on April 12 against Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai.

    STRENGTHS:

    Punjab Kings have one of the strongest batting line-ups this season.

    They have a dangerous opening pairing in skipper KL Rahul, who won the ‘Orange Cap’ last season, and the ever-reliable Mayank Agarwal.

    Universe Boss Chris Gayle, who hammered 288 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 137.14 last year, is expected to start from game one this time after warming the bench in the initial part of the 2020 edition.

    Include flamboyant wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran to the mix and the top four seems sorted.

    They have also roped in the services of the world’s number one T20 batsman Dawid Malan, seen as Gayle’s back-up.

    After Maxwell’s expected departure, the middle-order has been strengthened with the arrival of all-rounder Moises Henriques and Tamil Nadu batsman Shahrukh Khan.

    Deepak Hooda has also proven he can strike the ball hard and is experienced enough to play the role of the finisher.

    In Fabian Allen, Punjab Kings have another overseas all-rounder option.

    The pace attack has boosted by the signing of Australian speedsters Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith, who had a sensational Big Bash campaign.

    Alongside Mohammad Shami and England’s Chris Jordan, the quartet makes for a formidable fast bowling unit.

    WEAKNESSES:

    Punjab Kings’ biggest weakness is the lack of quality spinners.

    They released off-spinner K Gowtham, who ended up becoming the most expensive buy ever at the latest auction.

    The likes of Murugan Ashwin and young Ravi Bishnoi, who impressed last season, will be expected to deliver.

    They have added Jalaj Saxena, who is a highly experienced domestic player and picked up 10 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this year at an excellent economy rate of 6.26.

    But with no internationally successful players in the spin department, it remains the weakest link.

    The team also doesn’t have another India pacer of the caliber of Shami.

    OPPORTUNITIES:

    Punjab Kings are yet to win an IPL title.

    With most of their bases covered on paper, they seem like strong contenders this year.

    This season is the perfect opportunity for Rahul and his men to get their hands on their maiden title, having charted out a three-year plan under his leadership and coach Anil Kumble’s guidance.

    The league will also provide Rahul much-needed match practice ahead of the T20 World Cup.

    The generally calm and composed wicketkeeper-batsman looked out of sorts in the T20 series against England.

    THREATS:

    Shami, who fractured his wrist in Australia last year, has not played cricket in four months.

    With the national team’s workload management to be kept in mind in a busy year, it remains to be seen if he plays all league games.

    He had a memorable run last year with 20 wickets and the team’s success will a depend a lot on his performance.

    The Squad:

    KL Rahul (c/wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Mandeep Singh, Prabsimran Singh, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Porel, Darshan Nalkande, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Jhye Richardson, Shahrukh Khan, Riley Meredith, Moises Henriques, Jalaj Saxena, Utkarsh Singh, Fabian Allen , Saurabh Kumar.

  • We had been wanting to change the name since 2019, says Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Kings XI Punjab is now Punjab Kings and its co-owner Ness Wadia on Saturday said the franchise needed to rebrand itself after so many years of IPL and the name change was something it wanted since 2019.

    Wadia feels Punjab Kings is a simpler name compared to Kings XI Punjab and will connect more with their fan base.

    “We just felt that we wanted to relook at things. We needed to rebrand and reinvent ourselves after so many years. As they say if something doesn’t work, change it and try and get it working,” Wadia told PTI, referring to the team’s title-less run in the IPL since the event’s inaugural edition in 2008.

    “Kings XI Punjab had a reference to the playing XI. Punjab Kings is more inclusive and will resonate better with the fans. 

    “We had been thinking of a name change for last couple of years. COVID came in 2020 so we put it on hold. We thought if we could do it at the big auction next year or the smaller auction this season, so finally decided to do it this year.”

    With the COVID caseload coming down drastically in India, the upcoming edition is set to be played in the country.

    Wadia is excited about the IPL returning home.

    “The UAE has had a huge amount of cases recently. India is safer at this point. We just need to make sure that strict protocols are in place, like we had in the UAE. 

    “Hopefully, some part of the stadiums will be filled with spectators. I don’t see full crowds being allowed for the games. I am the sure the right decision will be taken in due time. We are still two months away from the tournament,” said Wadia.

    The BCCI approved a 10-team IPL from 2022 at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last year.

    To start with, there could also be a nine-team before the event expands further.

    “I don’t know how nine will work, 10 is a good number. It is also good that that they are expanding the brand. It also increases the fan base and more players get a chance to play the IPL,” Wadia said.

    On his team’s buys at the auction, he added: “Anil and KL are quite happy about the players they have got. Now just they need to go out there and perform.”