Kings XI Punjab have gone through ups and downs over the years but have never won the IPL trophy till now. The management has entrusted that task to the former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson in IPL 2019. His mindset was evident in the IPL 2019 auctions when he went after a key set of youngsters to do the job for him this season. With experienced players like the skipper Ravichandran Ashwin, Chris Gayle and David Miller already available in the squad, Mike Hesson has picked a few interesting young overseas players in the lineup who could be possible match winners for the team.
Let us look at the 3 youngsters who could be game changers for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2019.
#3 Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Mujeeb was the mystery man for Punjab in the last season of the Indian Premier League. His spin variations were quite unique and it was impossible to imagine he was a 16-year-old then. Even the established batsmen of world cricket did struggle against him last season and his variations and experience have only increased now after a year. In the upcoming edition of IPL, Punjab would be hoping that the spin mystery of the Afghanistan youngster continues and helps the team to bring the trophy into the Punjab dugout.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman is not a potential game changer, he is, in fact, a proven game changer if one can go by the previous IPL season performances and Punjab team will be hoping that he will continue to have an impact in IPL 2019 too. Mujeeb himself will be looking forward to proving himself for the Afghanistan selectors after he was dropped from the national team for the Ireland Tests. He will definitely want to have his name onboard for the England World Cup and for that reason it is all the more certain he is going to be the game changer for Punjab.
#2 Nicholas Pooran
The 23-year-old wicket-keeper batsman has evolved as a T20 player in recent times and has notably played for a number of IPL teams over the years. He was picked by Mumbai Indians to play in IPL 2017 but could not get a game. His career has now revived in the last year with some serious performances all around the world and Punjab have grabbed him to guard the team in the top order.
His inclusion in the XI allows the team to have a quality wicket-keeper and not having to adjust with the part-time wicket keeping of KL Rahul or having to play an unknown PrabhSimran Singh for every match. With an ability to hit the ball cleanly at the top order, Nicholas Pooran will be looking forward to taking his game to the next level with some quality knocks for Punjab in this IPL.
Nicholas Pooran is undoubtedly a potential game changer for Kings XI Punjab.
#1 Sam Curran
Sam Curran is all set to debut in IPL for Kings XI Punjab and the England youngster will be looking forward to the challenge. The fact that he can float around in the batting order and can play at different batting positions is an added advantage for the Punjab side. He also gives you a certain 4 overs every match at a competitive pace which can trouble the opposition batsmen. It is for these all-around skills that Mike Hesson wanted the youngster to be part of his side.
Sam Curran will know that performances in the IPL will be crucial for his possible selection to the World Cup squad. He was selected by England in the West Indies tour for T20 matches but could not get game time. Though in reality, the chances of him making the cut are very much slim, he will be hoping to showcase some massive performances in the IPL to stake a claim.
With his all-around skills, Sam Curran is undoubtedly a potential game changer for Kings XI Punjab.
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