IPL 2018: 5 talking points after the first month of the league

#4 Kings XI Punjab's refreshing performance

Can Ashwin lead the Kings XI Punjab to their first title?

In two out of the last three seasons of the league, the Kings XI Punjab have had the ignominy of finishing as the wooden-spooners.

In 2018, the management decided to adopt a fresh start, retaining just Axar Patel but buying several players who could perform dual roles.

KL Rahul is one of India's finest young batsman today, but adds up as a wicket-keeper. Marcus Stoinis can give a side runs with the bat and overs with the ball. In Chris Gayle, they punted on a veteran many thought was at his end, but he's shown he's still got it.

But the key change for them has come at the top. Everybody who follows Indian cricket knows that R Ashwin is a cricket tragic. He loves the game and knows the intricacies of it very well.

Appointed captain of the side, he has shown some very impressive skills like the manner in which he bought in Gayle against the Chennai Super Kings or the way he backed Barinder Sran despite having gone for runs in the game against the Delhi Daredevils. It has been very refreshing to watch the way he has taken to the job.

As they move into the final stage of the league phase, Ashwin will hope that his side rise up and deliver and hopefully take the franchise to their first ever title.