IPL 2015: Key players from Kings XI Punjab

Squad: Axar Patel, Anureet Singh, Beuran Hendricks, David Miller, George Bailey(c), Glenn Maxwell, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Karanveer Singh, Manan Vora, Mitchell Johnson, Parvinder Awana, Rishi Dhawan, Sandeep Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Shaun Marsh, Shivam Sharma, Thisara Perera, Virender Sehwag, Wriddhiman Saha(wk), Murali Vijay, Nikhil Naik, Yogesh Golwalkar

Mitchell Johnson: The 33-year-old speedster has literally turned into a weapon of mass destruction for Australia, as far as the game of cricket is concerned. With 24 wickets in 17 games, the left-arm seamer was the key in Mumbai Indians triumph in IPL 2013 before getting snapped up by Kings XI Punjab last year. His ability to extract late swing at a ferocious pace makes him one of the most effective bowlers in the world today. Apart from his bowling skills, Johnson is more than just a handy batsman with the ability to clear the fence whenever required. In the format where quick wickets are bound to make an impact almost immediately, Johnson is the right bowler to have in the side.

David Miller: The 25-year-old South African, aka 'Killer Miller' in IPL, is as explosive as they come in limited-overs cricket. After making a name for his power-hitting, Miller has turned into an attractive strokeplayer in modern-day cricket. His ability to play a wide range of strokes, both off the front and backfoot has earned him quite a reputation in international cricket. Miller was also one of the most entertaining batsmen in IPL's sixth and seventh editions. The young South African took the IPL by storm after scoring 418 runs with 28 fours and 24 sixes for Kings XI Punjab in 2013. The performance impressed his team owners to such an extent that he became one of the only two players to be retained by KXIP ahead of 2014 and 2015 IPL auctions.

Thisara Perera: The 25-year-old Sri Lankan has turned into one of the most prolific allrounders in limited-overs cricket lately. His aggressive batting style and ability to pick crucial wickets make him a crucial player for the Lankans. Perera was sensational in his 2013 IPL season after he slammed 233 runs and notched up 19 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad from 16 games. He is also the only fourth Sri Lankan bowler to take a hat-trick in ODIs - a feat that came against Pakistan in 2012. With over 400 runs and 23 wickets in T20 internationals, Perera is likely to be one of the impact players for Kings XI Punjab in this year's IPL.

Glenn Maxwell: Kings XI Punjab bought Maxwell for a whopping Rs 6 crore last year and have held on to him. The 26-year-old is a terrific allrounder to have in your side. He can bowl right-arm off-spin and bat anywhere in the middle-order. He shot to fame after smashing a 19-ball half-century in 2009-10 - the fastest fifty in Australia's domestic cricket. Maxwell had a great campaign for Punjab last season and was instrumental in carrying his franchise to the final. Moreover, he has matured as a batsman with that aggressive brand of cricket still in place, which was there to be seen at the concluded World Cup. Maxwell in this season also will be playing a key part in Punjab's campaign.

George Bailey: The 32-year-old Australian batsman has been retained as captain of Kings XI Punjab for this season. Last season Bailey scored 257 runs off 17 matches and is one of the most bankable cricketers in modern-day cricket. The Tasmanian cricketer is an exquisite striker of the ball and capable of employing big shots to change the match within a few overs. His presence in the team will undoubtedly strengthen the middle-order and as a skipper, he is a positive presence.