IPL 2020: Bit Of Irony That In IPL There Is Only One Indian Head Coach: Anil Kumble

Kings XI Punjab head coach Anil Kumble has expressed his surprise over the lack of Indian coaches in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The former India bowler has been associated with coaching at the highest level soon after he brought down curtains on his illustrious career.

He served as the chief mentor of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians before being appointed as India coach in 2016. And last year, he was roped in by Kings XI Punjab. But unlike him, other former Indian players have not been that lucky as far as coaching in the IPL is concerned.

At the inaugural IPL in 2008, Lalchand Rajput was the head coach at Mumbai Indians, Robin Singh at Deccan Chargers. But as the tournament wore on, the franchises started preferring overseas coaches. In the upcoming season, Anil Kumble is the only Indian head coach.

LBW or caught behind, what do you reckon? ?
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All other IPL franchises have overseas head coaches – Brendon McCullum (Kolkata Knight Riders), Ricky Ponting (Delhi Capitals), Andrew McDonald (Rajasthan Royals), Mahela Jayawardene (Mumbai Indians), Trevor Bayliss (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Stephen Fleming (Chennai Super Kings) and Simon Katich (Royal Challengers Bangalore).

And ahead of the start of the tournament, he said that while he don’t know the reason behind the lack of Indian coaches in IPL, he did make sure to express his surprise over the same. He called the situation irony as he hoped that things will improve in future.

“I can’t answer that (why other teams don’t have Indian head coaches). It’s clearly not a true reflection of our resources. Bit of irony that in IPL there is only one Indian head coach. Hopefully, in future we will see more Indians as head coaches,” Anil Kumble was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

IPL 2020 is scheduled to start on September 19 with defending champions Mumbai Indians locking horns with Chennai Super Kings in the tournament-opener. Kings XI Punjab will start their campaign against Delhi Capitals on September 20.

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