Kings XI Punjab Director of Cricket Operations Anil Kumble has high hopes of winning IPL 2020 scheduled to begin from 19th September in the UAE. It will be the first stint of former Indian spinner with KXIP as a coach. He is delighted with the team’s combination and has heaped praise on the newly-appointed captain KL Rahul.
While speaking in the video posted by KXIP in the Twitter handle, Anil Kumble feels surreal to be back in the ground after an extended break. He is happy to resume cricket activities and train the players for the upcoming season.
“It feels really nice, it feels a bit strange to come on to the field like this and then have the entire squad, I mean not necessarily the entire squad but the set of players that are here. So it’s wonderful to be on the ground and have a hit, it’s nice to be outdoors,” Kumble said in a video posted by Punjab’s official Twitter handle.
Talking about the KXIP squad, Kumble is positive about the team’s success in the much-awaited season. He opined that they had the combination of experienced and youngsters which makes the team balanced.
“We have high hopes from this season, we have a really good squad, a very balanced squad, some experienced and some youngsters. I am getting to know them now and seeing them play for the first time here, some of them in nets, so yeah just looking forward to build on the preparation and to be ready for the IPL,” he added.
Anil Kumble backs KL Rahul for captaincy:
Anil Kumble applauded the KXIP captain KL Rahul, who will be the first time leading the franchise. According to the former Indian head coach, KL Rahul is relaxed and mature. Playing for KXIP for a long period, KL Rahul has got well acquainted with the team member and has gained experience. Kumble said that Rahul is excited and keen to lead the team in IPL 2020.
“KL is very relaxed, he is very mature, I have known him for a long time. He has the experience, international experience, having played this long and of course, the last couple of years he has been a part of the Kings XI and he has been their main player. He knows the team very well, he knows the youngsters really well. He is very excited and he is very keen. He has his hands full by being a batsman, keeper and then the captain,” Anil Kumble said.
Meanwhile, the Punjab-based franchise is still to lift the trophy. In the last edition, they were at sixth position out of eight IPL teams in the points table.