IPL 2020: ‘Chris Gayle should play every match next year,’ KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia

IPL 2020: ‘Chris Gayle should play every match next year,’ KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia

Ness Wadia and Chris Gayle

Ness Wadia and Chris Gayle
Ness Wadia and Chris Gayle

Kings XI Punjab went through a lot of ups and downs during the 13th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL). After struggling at the last spot in the Points Table at one stage, KXIP won five successive games to keep their hopes alive for the playoffs. However, they suffered back-to-back losses in their last two matches to miss out on the knockouts.

The Punjab-based franchise co-owner Ness Wadia said that he’s hopeful for seeing Chris Gayle right from the beginning next year. He also said that they need to fill in the gaps in their middle-order and bowling department. 

“The team management did what it thought was best for the team. It is important to back experienced players, and Gayle has demonstrated that he should play every game next season,” he was quoted as saying by News18.

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“It is a new captain, a new team with a lot of fresh faces, sometimes it clicks, and sometimes it doesn’t. The auction is coming up soon, and we would be looking to plug the gaps in the middle-order and our bowling. The international players did not perform to the expected level,” Wadia said.

‘Charted a three-year strategy with Anil Kumble’

KL Rahul and Anil Kumble
KL Rahul and Anil Kumble

Wadia revealed that the franchise has curated a three-year-long strategy with head coach Anil Kumble. He also lauded the performance of skipper KL Rahul over three years with Punjab in IPL. 

“We have charted a three-year strategy with Anil. We revamped this season and finished sixth and lost (the playoffs spot) only by one game. KL has been with us for three years, and there was a reason why we went after him so aggressively. He has proved us right. It is tough for the top order when your middle order is not performing,” he added.

“The good thing is that we have an established core now, and we need to plug the gaps which are quite apparent (middle-order and death bowling). KXIP’s record of making too many changes in captaincy and coaching is something which we want to correct.

Ness expressed his happiness on the way KL Rahul progressed as their skipper this year. He appreciated youngsters Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh in the concluding remarks.

“Rahul captained exceedingly well and gained in confidence with each game. We are lucky to have him. Shami has been brilliant too and has adjusted brilliantly to the T20 format. Pooran and the young Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh too performed well,” he further said.

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