Kings XI Punjab might still do well without a mega auction, predicts Aakash Chopra

Kings XI Punjab endured one of the worst starts in IPL 2020, where they just managed to get two points off their first six games, which also put their campaign under pressure. While their batting, specifically, top order clicked in the early part of the campaign, their bowling lacked the firepower, with Sheldon Cottrell misfiring. In the second half, the middle-order was a no-show in the IPL, as Glenn Maxwell, Jimmy Neesham never really arrived at the IPL party with the bat. 

The former Indian opener suggested that Maxwell’s form was a clear issue for the franchise, and they should be looking to replace him for a finisher. He also added that it was a similar case with Cottrell and Neesham, which really frees up their purse going into the next year’s IPL. 

Luckily for the franchise, a 41-year-old Chris Gayle firing in the middle-order came as a piece of good news, which resurrected their campaign, as they made a late surge to reach the playoff stage before falling flat. Chopra suggested that they should continue to have the left-handed West Indian as an X-factor and an intimidating factor in their setup. 

“They can keep Gayle if he wants to play although he is 41-years old. But the IPL is just a few months away and he was not expensive as well. So they can keep him as he is an X-factor and an intimidating factor,” he added.