In the ongoing trade window for the IPL 2019, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) has roped in their former middle-order batsman Mandeep Singh in the replacement of Marcus Stoinis.
Since IPL 2015, Mandeep Singh was playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) before this latest move. In the last season (IPL 2018), he was freshly bought by RCB for INR 1.40 crores. Earlier, he played for KXIP from 2011 to 2014.
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Mandeep has medium IPL career in overall as he has played 84 IPL matches where he has scored 1,364 runs (average 20.98) and also has picked up one wicket. His best IPL career was in 2012 season for KXIP where he was the 10th leading run-scorer in the tournament and leading run-scorer for his team in that tournament. Playing 16 matches in that season, Mandeep scored 432 runs with the average of 27.00 (strike-rate 126.31), including two half-centuries.
In RCB, Mandeep scored 597 runs in 40 matches. In the last season, Mandeep scored 252 runs in 14 matches with the average of 25.20.
After releasing Mandeep, RCB tweeted by copying a famous emotional dialogue line from the famous Bollywood movie ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, “@mandeeps12 tussi jaa rahe ho… tussi na jao #PlayBold forever”
.@mandeeps12 tussi jaa rahe ho… tussi na jao 🙁🙏#PlayBold forever
— Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) October 28, 2018
Meanwhile, KXIP posted the celebrating tweet on Mandeep’s return which said, “Saada King, Mandeep Singh! Our PUNJAB da puttar is back! Looking forward to many celebrations and even more runs from you. We are absolutely delighted to have you back! #ChakDePhatte @mandeeps12 #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #KXIP #WelcomeBack”
Saada King, Mandeep Singh! 🦁 🏏
Our PUNJAB da puttar is back!
Looking forward to many celebrations and even more runs from you.
We are absolutely delighted to have you back! 🤗❤️#ChakDePhatte @mandeeps12 #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #KXIP #WelcomeBack
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) October 28, 2018
On the other hand, KXIP has released the Australian pace-bowling all-rounder Marcus Stoinis in this swap. After failing to make his IPL debut for Delhi Daredevils in 2015, Stoinis played for KXIP between 2016 and 2018. In 19 matches in IPL career, Stoinis has scored 262 runs (average 23.81) and has picked up 13 wickets (average 32.61).
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In the 2018 IPL Auction, RCB won Stoinis’ bid for INR 6.20 crores, but KXIP finally snatched him by using the RTM card. However, his performances didn’t match with the Auction value as he played seven games in the previous IPL season where he scored 99 runs (average 24.75) and picked up only three wickets (average 40.00).
