Karnataka quota: Anil Kumble Accused Of Favouring Karnataka Players As KXIP Suffer Another Loss

Kings XI Punjab’s campaign in IPL 2020 has started reminding their fans of their dismal past performances. After a promising start to the season that saw them play out a thriller to Delhi Capitals before thrashing Royal Challengers Bangalore by 97 runs, Kings XI Punjab are now languishing at the bottom of the points table.

With just 1 win from their opening four games, the perennial underachievers of the IPL are in danger of throwing away another season. On Thursday, they suffered a crushing 48-run loss at the hands of defending champions Mumbai Indians. Barring the first few overs with the ball and then the bat, Kings XI Punjab never really looked in good position.

Asked to bat first, Mumbai Indians piled up 191 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs. Rohit Sharma starred with the bat, scoring 70 before Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya provided the finishing touches. The duo added 67 runs in just 23 balls to power Mumbai to a good total in Abu Dhabi.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

In reply, Kings XI Punjab ended their innings on 143 for 8. Once they lost their first wicket in the powerplay, they never really looked in contention to win the game as the Punjab-based outfit kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Anil Kumble faces the heat:

In the wake of another defeat, several fans have accused Kings XI Punjab head coach Anil Kumble of favouring Karnataka players. The fans were not at all impressed with Anil Kumble’s decision to persist with Karun Nair and not give a chance to Mandeep Singh.

Mandeep Singh is yet to get a game in IPL 2020 while Nair has played all the games so far and has performed poorly. His scores in three innings so far are – 1, 15* and 0. And as Kings XI Punjab suffered another defeat, the fans took to Twitter to slam Anil Kumble and accused him of favouring Karnataka players.

Here are some of the reactions:

Agree. Karnataka and ex-RCB! What wrong has @<!---->m<!---->a<!---->n<!---->d<!---->e<!---->e<!---->p<!---->s<!---->1<!---->2 done not to play ahead of Karun Nair

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Even though iam from Karnataka I totally agree to your point and moreover there’s no punjabi flavour left in the KXIP team.Even RCB had played Mandeep regularly. Mandeep far far better than overrated karun nair

— Dhanush Athikari (@dannynsboy) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Please its time admit, Kumble has messed up. Over confident. Who would chose karun najr who has been a major failure in IPL ahead of Mandeep and Hooda? Because Karnataka? And what a worst bowling combination m, not 1 death’bowler. Kumble messed up big time

— Sidharth Raj (@Sidhart28880620) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Kumble and Rahul getting the gifts of imposing Karnataka Kota over talented youngsters in #<!---->K<!---->X<!---->I<!---->P @<!---->l<!---->i<!---->o<!---->n<!---->s<!---->d<!---->e<!---->n<!---->k<!---->x<!---->i<!---->p#<!---->i<!---->p<!---->l<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0 @<!---->v<!---->i<!---->k<!---->r<!---->a<!---->n<!---->t<!---->g<!---->u<!---->p<!---->t<!---->a<!---->7<!---->3 @<!---->m<!---->a<!---->n<!---->o<!---->j<!---->_<!---->d<!---->i<!---->m<!---->r<!---->i

— Harsh Raj (@harsh_rajs) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Is it true Nair only plays under Kumble because he’s from Karnataka

— Ram LIHC (@edgbaston_149) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Only reason Kumble not dropping Karun nair because he’s from Karnataka ??‍♂️

— Sadhu RCB (@SadhuMaharaj16) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

@<!---->l<!---->i<!---->o<!---->n<!---->s<!---->d<!---->e<!---->n<!---->k<!---->x<!---->i<!---->p one more season washout? Kumble can’t think beyond playing superflop Karnataka players like Karun and Gowtham, Rahul can’t captain to save his life, not trusted to captain Ranji team, he is given an international side.Wake up guys before the season is over.

— SANJIT PAUL SINGH (@SANJITPAULSINGH) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Karnataka quota pick from Kumble only reasoning I can find.

— Prashanth?? (@ps_it_is) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Karun nair is in team only bcos of Karnataka Quota of Rahul and Kumble #<!---->K<!---->X<!---->I<!---->v<!---->s<!---->M<!---->I #<!---->i<!---->p<!---->l<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

— Anjanish Tripathi (@Aryansrkian) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Also Read: We Need To Bat The Situation Not The Ground: Kieron Pollard Looking Forward To Playing In Sharjah

Also Read: KL Rahul Rues The Lack Of An Extra Bowling Option After Mumbai Indians Beat Kings XI Punjab