Will R Ashwin Be Removed As Kings XI Punjab Captain? Anil Kumble Answers

Kings XI Punjab may have decided to retain R Ashwin for the next season but it is not yet confirmed whether the India Test spinner will continue to lead the team. In a conversation with PTI, Anil Kumble, KXIP’s Director of Cricket, said that the team has not made a decision on captaincy yet.

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Ashwin was a surprise pick for captaincy in 2018 and led the team in two seasons. On both the occasions, KXIP failed to make it to the second round of the tournament.

“We have not decided that yet. Some decisions need to be made but we don’t need to decide at this moment. IPL is still five months away. There is an auction coming up, we will start to build a squad around that as well. “Ashwin had a wonderful two years but of course we did not get the right results but we have not made any decision who the captain will be,” Kumble told PTI.

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After KXIP’s failure to make it to the playoffs in IPL 2019, reports had suggested that the franchise was in talks with Delhi Capitals to trade Ashwin. In fact, the trade would have been done by now but as a per a report in Mumbai Mirror, monetary issues saw the deal being delayed.

In the meantime, KXIP roped in Kumble to join the backroom staff, who might have played lead a big roe in KXIP putting the trade talks off. Ness Wadia, the co-owner of the franchise, had confirmed that they were in talks with Delhi Capitals.

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India batsman KL Rahul seems to be the front-runner for the captaincy job if KXIP do not retain Ashwin as their captain. In IPL 2018, the team had a brilliant start but faltered in the second phase of the tournament while in IPL 2019, KXIP were never consistent and again missed the bus to the playoffs.

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The franchise is expected to announce the list of released players soon as the IPL auction takes place on December 19 in Kolkata. The trading window for the season closes on November 14.