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The 12th edition of the Indian Premier League will commence on 23rd March at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. The defending champions Chennai Super Kings will face Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 1st game of the season.
Kings XI Punjab will kickstart their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on 25th of March at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. The Punjab-based franchise started their last IPL on a grand note before fizzling out towards the end of the tournament, thereby missing out on a knockout berth.
The international stars will have to play a key factor if KXIP are to win their maiden IPL title this term. The team reached the final once in 2014, where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in a tense clash. The spin-heavy team will expect the home-turf to assist spinners to make it their fortress.
Without much ado, let us look at the three international stars, who could be key for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2019.
#1 Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle has hit form at the right time before the IPL while playing for West Indies. The swashbuckling opening batsman hit 39 sixes in the ODI series against England and set the record for most sixes in a bilateral ODI tournament. The Jamaican scored 424 runs from his four innings, with two centuries.
Kings XI Punjab will be ecstatic about Gayle's form as he will lead their charge for their maiden IPL title. He will open the batting with KL Rahul. Rahul's flair and Gayle's brutality could set the IPL stage on fire. Gayle is, undoubtedly, a T20 legend, who has scored 12318 runs from 371 games at a brilliant strike-rate of 147.09.
The left-handed batsman who will be 40 before next year's IPL, may consider his retirement after this season. Hence, the champion batsman will give his best to win the title which he has never won, despite his glittering career.
#2 David Miller
David Miller is the vice-captain of the South African national T20 side and is one of the most aggressive lower-middle order batsmen in the world. Miller's ability to score sixes at-ease has made him a T20 star.
The left-handed batsman has scored 6137 runs from his 278 T20s across the globe, maintaining an impressive strike-rate of 139.12. He has had an impressive campaign for South Africa and Dolphins and is in good form right before the IPL tournament.
Kings XI Punjab retained the service of the southpaw during the IPL transfer window last year. Finch's presence in the middle-order limited Miller's opportunities in last season's IPL. He just played three games, scoring 74 runs. Now that Finch is no more a part of KXIP, Miller will be leading the middle-order of the Punjab side.
Miller's form will be key for KXIP's bid to win their maiden IPL title in 12 years.
#3 Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Afghanistan spinner, Mujeeb ur Rahman had a memorable debut campaign in the Indian Premier League with KXIP. The mystery spinner opened the bowling for KXIP in most of the games and gave his side good starts.
The right-arm bowler played 11 matches last season and took 14 wickets at an impressive average and strike-rate of 20.64 and 17.71 respectively. The striking aspect of Mujeeb's bowling is his control on the ball. Despite bowling predominantly in the batting power-play overs, Mujeeb's economy stands below seven runs per over.
The Afghan spinner is easily one of the best performers of KXIP last season. The 17-year-old was in good form with the Afghanistan national team, troubling Ireland in the initial overs during his international duty.
He also performed impressively for Brisbane Heat during the Big Bash tournament. Mujeeb's tight bowling will help the likes of Ashwin and debutant Varun Chakravarthy to scalp wickets from the other end.
