Reports: KL Rahul set to be named Kings XI Punjab captain for the IPL 2020

In addition to buying a number of players to complete their squad as well as bolster it, Kings XI Punjab will also have to name a new captain ahead of the next season. The Punjab-based outfit traded their former skipper Ravichandran Ashwin in the trade window and will thus have to look for his replacement. Ashwin led the franchise in the last two seasons.

As captain, Ashwin was unable to change the fortunes of the team which still remains one of the three original teams yet to win an IPL title. The team failed to make it to the playoffs in both seasons despite a few promising performances. Kings XI Punjab, in fact, have not made it to the playoffs since their runners-up finish in 2014.

Well, Kings XI Punjab are reportedly set to name KL Rahul as their captain for the upcoming season, according to Sportstar. Rahul was the standout performer for the franchise in the last two seasons. One of the best batsmen in IPL right now, Rahul finished both the seasons as his franchise’s top run-scorer.

In 2018, he scored 659 runs before piling up 593 runs this year. The report further stated that a final call on captaincy will be taken only after the auction in Kolkata on December 19.

Kings XI Punjab to play all its matches at home in IPL 2020

In another major decision, the franchise is set to play all its home fixtures at the PCA Stadium in Mohali in the forthcoming season. For the past few weeks, there were speculations that the franchise would look at the Ekana International Stadium in Lucknow as its second home base. However, the KXIP CEO, Satish Menon, has confirmed that the team will play its home game at its traditional base.

“There is absolutely no truth to all that. This time, we are not looking at a second venue,” Menon told the news outlet. “We will play all the seven home games in Mohali this season. That’s where things stand,” he added.

In a desperate attempt to win the title, the Kings XI have also roped in former India skipper Anil Kumble as their head coach. Kumble had helped Mumbai Indians win the title while being a part of the backroom staff. Along with Kumble, Kings XI Punjab have also roped in former South Africa star Jonty Rhodes as the fielding coach.

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