Kevin Pietersen Reveals One Top All-rounder Who Should Be Dropped From KXIP 

After Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) was handed a huge defeat of 69 runs while playing against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) yesterday, fans were disheartened with their performance. It was their fifth loss out of the six matches they have played so far in IPL 2020. 

As they are many issues which is bringing the team down, there is one factor that fans feel which cannot go hidden- it is the failure of Glenn Maxwell with the bat. 

As KXIP desperately needs big performers on the field; Maxwell is scoring 1, 5, 13, 11, 11* and 7 to which former England captain Kevin Pietersen believes that the team needs to start looking beyond Maxwell.

“These guys (KXIP) will have to get something out of Maxwell. You cannot keep an overseas player’s spot like this. Glenn Maxwell hasn’t scored at all in this IPL,” Pietersen said during commentary. 

“Rahul hasn’t got the support from his overseas players. Yes, Pooran scored runs today, but one player is Maxwell. Maxwell either has to be sidelined or he gets just one more opportunity,” he added. 

However, KXIP coach Anil Kumble had revealed that had it not been for a slight food poisoning issue, Chris Gayle would have played the match.

Pietersen further advises that in order to bring in Gayle, captain KL Rahul will have to make the tough decision. “It’s about just knuckling down and trying to speak to the players individually and trying to get the best out of the players. But also, set your mark out and say ‘this is the team that I am going to play for the next 3-4 games’. I am going to (have a) go at Maxwell here because he hasn’t delivered. He is a big, big player for that franchise. If he is not part of the process, then you have to bring somebody else in,” Pietersen said.

“And Gayle, Anil Kumble said he would have played but he had a bit of an upset tummy. So he is going to have to produce some magic but where is he going to bat? I don’t think he can bat at No. 3 or No. 4 because of his running between the wicket," he later stated.