Rebuilding Kings XI bank on foreign contingent

Kings XI Punjab were left with the wooden spoon, with 11 defeats in 14 matches

Kings XI in 2014 were like a volcano blowing its lid. Nine totals of 170 or more, four of which passed 200, helped them march into the playoffs and beyond. By the time they made their first IPL final, they had re-branded themselves as the most entertaining team in the tournament. The following season, though, it all went bust and Kings XI were the first to be knocked out. Perhaps, the only constant across the two topsy-turvy years was captain George Bailey's cherubic smile.

It won't be there in 2016 though. Bailey, who missed his berth in Australia's World T20 squad, will not be part of the IPL and his successor at Kings XI, David Miller, has very little captaincy experience. He will also have to do the heavy lifting in the batting line-up along with Glenn Maxwell, especially with Virender Sehwag retiring and becoming the team's mentor.

Manan Vohra, who along with Miller were the only players retained by the franchise in 2014, was re-signed ahead of the auction this year, and looks set to open with M Vijay, despite their poor run last year. Kings XI also have the option of Shaun Marsh, who has been part of their set-up since the inception of the league.

The side began the rebuilding job by snapping up useful - if a little low profile - allrounders Farhaan Behardien and Marcus Stoinis, seamer Mohit Sharma and left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh.They also recalled an old friend in Kyle Abbott at the auction. It seems Kings XI are largely reliant on their overseas roster though, Axar Patel and Sandeep Sharma have gone on to become India internationals via the IPL.

Like any team in transition, Kings XI have a few of them. Let's start with the captain himself. Miller has led all of three times in domestic cricket, bagging golden ducks in two of those games. Can he cope with the responsibility of leading a team comprised of players from diverse cultures?

Can the Sharmas prove their fitness and deliver? Sandeep had missed the entire Indian domestic season in 2015-16 because of injury, while Mohit sustained one of his own during the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy and was subsequently ruled out of India's limited-overs tour to Australia, the Asia Cup, and World T20.

Does the spin attack have enough bite? There is Axar, who has added flight and turn to his primary mode of operation, flat fizzers. There is Maxwell, who has often been considered a frontline option by Australia. Gurkeerat Singh, Swapnil Singh and KC Cariappa, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 2.4 crore in 2015, provide back up. Nagpur has been slotted as Kings XI's second home and if the pitches there are anything like they were during the World T20, they will need as many options as possible.

Mitchell Johnson, who was retained, has not played competitive cricket since his international retirement last November. Does he still have it in him to lead the attack?

Maxwell and Miller had blitzed 139 boundaries between them in 2014, but that count shrunk to less than half last year. Kings XI will rely on them to bring in the X-factor. They'll also want Vijay to retrofit some of his Test-match stability into the T20 arena.

"Everything you see and like about Kings XI starts with Sanjay Bangar," Bailey had said of the coach, following Kings XI's surge in 2014. "His ability to draw younger players out of their shells has been phenomenal and he has been fantastic in managing the overseas players". Bangar now faces the challenge of rebuilding the side from the rubble with an inexperienced captain.

Swapnil was part of the list of 25 probables for the 2007-08 Under-19 World Cup. He did not make the final cut for Malaysia, but made his first-class debut, for Baroda, at 14 years and 355 days. Swapnil has played just 76 domestic matches over a decade, of which 31 have come in the last two seasons. Swapnil, who claimed the second-best bowling figures in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament - 6 for 19 - can also bat a bit in the lower order. At INR 10 lakh, Swapnil is a decent acquisition, if he clicks. Swapnil had earlier been part of Mumbai Indians' squad, but is yet to get a game in the IPL.

Everyone available

Head coach - Sanjay Bangar, bowling coach - Joe Dawes, fielding coach - R Sridhar, physiotherapist - Patrick Farhart, mentor- Virender Sehwag, peak performance coach - Anand Chulani

"The IPL is a platform where talent meets opportunity and that excites me. I think that's the theme of this team. He [Miller] came in as a 20-year old boy, sat on the benches for a season [as] an unknown quantity and today is the captain."
Kings XI head coach Bangar

"My job is to motivate them [the youngsters], tell them about conditions …and share my experience with them. It is important when you want to take a risk. Maybe that's too early or too late; I can share my experience with them and he can take the risk at the right time."
Kings XI mentor Sehwag