Kings XI Punjab Likely To Be Renamed Punjab Kings Before IPL 2021

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) captained by KL Rahul has decided to rename the team ahead of the commencement of the upcoming IPL 2021 edition, as per reports of Cricbuzz.com. The report also stated that the franchise management was looking to change the name and look of the team before the 14^th edition of the tournament.

The Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) franchise is co-owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman, and Karan Paul. Mohali’s Punjab Cricket Association Stadium is their home stadium, while they have played some of their home matches in Dharamsala and Indore as well. The Kings XI Punjab have made it into the IPL playoffs twice, with their best finish coming in 2014 IPL when ended up runners-up.

BCCI Have Granted The Permission For The Name Change From Kings XI Punjab To Punjab Kings: Reports

As per Cricbuzz, the franchise (KXIP) has already communicated its decision to the BCCI and the apex board has approved the change. The franchise officials have not communicated the exact reasoning behind the name change, but it has been reported that they have been planning a ‘relaunch’ in a couple of days in Mumbai, ahead of the February 18 auction.

The franchise will be turning up as Punjab Kings in the IPL 2021 auction in Chennai on February 18 and the BCCI, in a recent internal communication to the teams, addressed the Mohali side as Punjab Kings.

With this name change, the KXIP has joined Delhi Capitals who changed their name from Delhi Daredevils ahead of the IPL 2018 edition. A season before that, the Rising Pune Supergiants had changed their name to Rising Pune Supergiant.

This name change worked for both the franchises, with Delhi Capitals have made it to the qualifiers twice in the last three years and even played the final of the IPL 2020 edition in UAE. Rising Pune Supergiants had finished second last in the IPL 2016 under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, changed their name and the captain, and reached the finals of the tournament in IPL 2017 with Steve Smith leading the team.

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) managed just 6 wins in 14 matches in IPL 2020 and failed to qualify for the qualifiers.

Also Read: IPL 2021 Date, Schedule, Venues, Fixtures, Squads, Purse Value