IPL 2020: KXIP likely to persist with KL Rahul and Anil Kumble at the helm for upcoming season

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) are most likely to persist with KL Rahul as their skipper and Anil Kumble as the head coach for the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL). In the 2020 edition of the T20 tournament, the Mohali-based franchise failed to qualify for the playoffs after making a disastrous start, winning only one game out of their first seven outings.

Though they had a five-match winning streak, it wasn’t enough for them to break into the top four. As far as Kumble and Rahul are concerned, the franchise sounded happy about their performance. The team are delighted to find their core group of players but also talked about the need for a power-hitter and someone, who could support Mohammed Shami.

“The owners are happy with captain and coach. Rahul was exceptional with the bat and team scripted a remarkable comeback in the second half of the season. Had that short-run not being called in the first game (against DC), the team would have been in play-offs.

“The good thing is a core group has been identified. Gaps need to be plugged in the middle-order where the team needs a power hitter and also a world-class fast bowler to support Shami,” the source was quoted as saying in Hindustan Times.

Rahul has been with the KXIP team for the last three years, but it’s only in 2020 that he got to captain the team after Ravi Ashwin went to the Delhi Capitals (DC). He also won the Orange Cap, scoring 670 runs with a top score of 132*. It was also Kumble’s maiden coaching stint with KXIP.

KXIP likely to release Cottrell, Maxwell

In the auction for the 2020 edition, KXIP had splurged a whole lot of money on Sheldon Cottrell and Glenn Maxwell. Even as Cottrell was brought for INR 8.5 crores, KXIP shelled out a staggering INR 10.75 crores for the Victorian Maxwell. But both couldn’t quite live up to the expectations.

Bearing in mind the same, the duo may just be released by the franchise. “Their performance was not on expected lines and it will be tough to continue with them,” the source added.