India’s highest wicket-taker and former captain Anil Kumble has been appointed as the head coach of IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab for the 2020 season. His contract was finalized after a board meeting of the franchise on Thursday.
Earlier, Kumble was the chief mentor of Mumbai Indians in 2013 IPL, which made them win their maiden IPL title. Kumble had left a similar role at Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Later on, India’s former leg-spinner served as India’s head coach in 2016-17 and resigned from the post due to an alleged rift with the skipper Virat Kohli. Now, after a two-year gap, he will be taking up his first coaching stint with this IPL franchise.
During the Champions Trophy 2017, Kumble and Kohli were reportedly not on talking terms, leading the legendary leg-spinner to opt-out of the Indian team’s tour of West Indies, followed by the 50-over tournament in the UK. This allowed Ravi Shastri to succeed Anil Kumble as the head coach of the Indian cricket team in 2017.
However, the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), who are yet to win the IPL title, have finished sixth in 2019 IPL, a slight improvement from the seventh position they finished in 2018.
