CHANDIGARH: Kings XI Punjab has appointed Anil Kumble, former India coach and the country’s highest wicket-taker, as director, Cricket Operations, of the Indian Premier League franchise.
Spin legend Kumble has been put in charge of “all cricket-related affairs” of the team and will be making a presentation to the team management regarding his plans on October 19, PTI reports.
KXIP have also brought West Indies great Courtney Walsh on board as talent scount, pretty much like the long-time association former India coach John Wright has with Mumbai Indians, the newswire further reports.
According to PTI, former India spinner Sunil Joshi and Kumble’s longtime national and state teammate will be the assistant coach of the Punjab franchise. South African great Jonty Rhodes is set to be the team’s fielding coach and former Australian captain George Bailey will coach the batsmen.
Punjab is yet to win the IPL title, and the Mohali-based franchise would be hoping for a reversal in its fortunes under Kumble’s watch. Punjab’s best run was in 2014 when it made it to the final, where it lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.
After his international retirement, Kumble was elected president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in 2010 and served a three-year term in that capacity.
In 2016, as head coach of India, he oversaw the team’s Champions Trophy campaign, when it finished runner-up to Pakistan following a 180-run defeat in the final. He was controversially succeeded to the post by current coach Ravi Shastri in 2017 after his relationship with skipper Virat Kohli became “untenable”.
