KL Rahul is all set to lead Kings XI Punjab in the upcoming IPL season after co-owner Ness Wadia revealed that the franchise has amicably decided to part ways with former skipper Ravichandran Ashwin.
The Punjab outfit has been negotiating with Delhi Capitals for the last two months, but now it has come to light that a few other franchises are also interested in Ashwin, who led KXIP for the past two seasons, but could not take the side to the playoffs.
“I know there is a lot of speculation, but we are still talking. Ashwin is a very good, versatile player. Any team would love to have him. We are talking to a few different teams (including Delhi), and as soon as we are clear, we will announce it,” was quoted as saying by PTI.
“We (Ashwin and KXIP) have amicably come to the conclusion that we should part ways, and now we are trying to get the best fit, the best solution for everyone. We are talking to a few teams to see where the best fit is, and the best value comes for both Ashwin and ourselves. We want the best deal for everyone,” he added.
Last month, Wadia had said that the KXIP board had a re-think on Ashwin and decided to retain the premier India spinner following the appointment of Anil Kumble as head coach.
Now, it has come quite clear that negotiations over Ashwin’s trade-off have resumed. The final announcement can be made anytime soon as the transfer window for the IPL 2020 closes on November 14.
Under Ashwin’s captaincy, KXIP showed a lot of promise in the first half of the last two IPL seasons before losing momentum in the second half. They finished seventh in 2018 and sixth this year.
KXIP qualified for the semifinals in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008 before making it to the playoffs just once in 2014 when they finished runners-up.
