IPL: Best all-time playing XI for PBKS

The Kings XI Punjab have shown promise in numerous seasons but have failed to deliver when it matters most. They were in an excellent position to make the playoffs in certain seasons but did not. It was difficult to select an all-time XI for a franchise that has had five different coaches in the last few seasons and inconsistencies in team selection over the years.

They’ve provided a platform to a lot of uncapped players, from Paul Valthaty to Parvinder Awana, and they haven’t disappointed. Even legends of the group, such as Shaun Marsh, may not have received the respect they deserved due to the outfit’s lack of success.

Here is PBKS’ all-time playing xi:

1. Chris Gayle: Jamaican cricketer Chris Gayle has been a standout for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was signed by the franchise in 2018 and has since become an important player of the team. Gayle scored 368 runs in 11 matches in his first season with Punjab, with a best score of 104 not out.

He then had a fantastic season in 2019, amassing 490 runs in 13 matches. Gayle’s hard-hitting talent and aggressive batting style make him a threat in T20 cricket. Despite being nearing the end of his career, Gayle performed admirably for Punjab in the 2020 IPL, amassing 288 runs in seven matches.

2. KL Rahul: KL Rahul is one of Punjab Kings’ most consistent performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was signed by the team in 2018 and has since become an important part of their hitting lineup. In 2018, Rahul had a breakout season, amassing 659 runs in 14 games, including six half-centuries. He then had another strong season in 2019, scoring 593 runs in 14 games.

In 2020, he was named captain of the Punjab Kings and continued to perform admirably, scoring 670 runs in 14 matches. Rahul’s ability to anchor an innings and score at a high strike rate makes him a vital team asset. Overall he has scored 2548 runs for PBKS at an average of 138.21 and scored 2 centuries.

3. Shaun Marsh: Shaun Marsh is an Australian cricketer who has played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Punjab Kings. He joined the team in 2008 and has been a steady performer for them since then. Marsh’s most notable season for Punjab was in 2008 when he finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 616 runs in just 11 matches. During that season, he also scored a century and five half-centuries.

Marsh has appeared in 71 Punjab Kings matches, hitting 2477 runs at an average of 39.95. For the franchise, he has 20 half-centuries and one century. Marsh remains a reliable batsman for Punjab despite being in and out of the lineup in previous years.

4. Glen Maxwell: Glenn Maxwell, the Australian all-rounder, has had an exciting career in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Punjab Kings. He was signed by the team in 2014 and remained with them till 2017. He returned to Punjab in 2020 after spending a few seasons with other teams.

Maxwell had his greatest season for Punjab in 2014, when he scored 552 runs in 16 matches, including a high of 95 not out. He was also successful with the ball, taking 11 wickets. Maxwell’s aggressive batting and useful off-spin make him an important player in T20 cricket.

In the 2020 IPL season, Maxwell struggled to find form, managing just 108 runs in 13 matches. However, the Punjab franchise persisted with him and he repaid their faith in the 2021 season, scoring 398 runs in 14 matches. Maxwell’s contributions with bat and ball have been crucial for Punjab Kings over the years.

5. Yuvraj Singh: Yuvraj Singh, the former Indian cricketer, had a successful stint with Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was an integral part of the team from 2008 to 2013 and then played for the franchise again in 2018.

Yuvraj’s most memorable season with Punjab came in 2009, when he was named the player of the tournament. He scored 383 runs and picked up 10 wickets in 14 matches, playing a key role in the team’s run to the semi-finals.

In total, Yuvraj scored 2,388 runs in 85 matches for Punjab, with 13 half-centuries to his name. He also picked up 36 wickets with his left-arm spin. Yuvraj’s contributions played a significant role in Punjab’s success in the early years of the IPL.

6. David Miller: South African cricketer David Miller has been a key member of the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2012. Miller made his IPL debut for the franchise in the fifth season, rapidly establishing himself as one of the team’s most dependable middle-order batsmen. Miller’s most noteworthy effort for Punjab was a brilliant 38-ball century against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013. He finished with 418 runs in 16 matches, securing his spot on the team.

Miller has been a regular contributor for Punjab throughout the years, scoring 1850 runs in 79 matches with the team. He’s also proven to be a reliable fielder, with 52 catches.

7. Axar Patel: Axar Patel is an Indian all-rounder who has played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Punjab Kings. He was signed by the franchise in the 2014 IPL auction and has remained with the squad ever since.

Patel has been a constant performer for Punjab, proving to be a key asset to the club with his left-arm spin bowling and hard-hitting lower-order batting. He was Punjab’s second-highest wicket-taker in the 2014 IPL season, collecting 17 wickets in 17 matches. In 2015, he had another strong season, taking 13 wickets in 14 matches.

8. Piyush Chawla: The Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla had a successful tenure with Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Chawla joined the franchise in the first season of the IPL in 2008 and stayed with them until 2013, before returning in 2019.

Chawla was a steady performer for Punjab Kings, and he was instrumental in the team’s success in 2014, when they finished runners-up. He appeared in 87 games with the franchise, taking 84 wickets at an economy rate of 7.87. Chawla is also the first Indian player to get a hat-trick in the IPL, accomplishing the feat while playing for Punjab Kings during the 2010 season.

9. Irfan Pathan: In this all-time PBKS XI, Irfan Pathan would be the sole all-rounder. The left-arm swing bowler from Baroda is PBKS’s fourth-highest wicket-taker. Pathan took 47 wickets for PBKS at an average of 24.80 and an economy rate of 7.79. He also performed admirably with the bat, amassing 603 runs at an average of 25.12 and a strike rate of 131.08.

10. Mohammed Shami: The Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been a consistent performer for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was signed by the franchise in 2019 and has since become an important part of the team’s bowling attack. Shami took 19 wickets in 14 matches in his maiden season with Punjab, finishing as the team’s leading wicket-taker. He then had another strong season in 2020, capturing 20 wickets in 14 matches. Shami’s ability to swing the ball both ways, combined with his accuracy, make him a dangerous T20 bowler.

11. Sandeep Sharma: With his ability to pick up wickets in the power-play, the Punjab medium-pacer, who generates tremendous swing with the new ball, has shown to be an asset. Sharma is PBKS’s second-highest wicket-taker, after only Piyush Chawla. For the franchise, he has 71 wickets at an average of 22.35 and an economy rate of 7.77. He is one of the IPL’s most underappreciated bowlers.