Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings have removed former Indian captain and legendary spinner Anil Kumble from the head coaching position. According to the report, the franchise is in contact with Eoin Morgan, Trevor Bayliss and a former India coach to take over the role.
ESPN Cricinfo said in a report Thursday: “Anil Kumble was named head coach before the 2020 season and in charge of the team for the next three seasons. But Preity Zinta, industrialists Mohit Burman, Ness Wadia and Karan Paul and Kings have been withdrew from the franchise after an exhaustive decision by the owners, including CEO Satish Menon.”
In all three seasons of Kumble’s team, the Punjab Kings finished bottom of the IPL points table. It was ranked fifth in both 2020 and 2021, when the league consisted of eight teams. In 2022, a league of ten teams was played and it was classified sixth.
The report said that at the time, Kumble was the Kings’ fifth designated coach in five seasons after Sanjay Bangar (2014-16), Virender Sehwag (2017), Brad Hodge (2018) and Mike Hesson (2019). In 2022, Kumble was the only Indian head coach in the IPL.
The report indicates that the franchise is looking for another coach in his place and will make an announcement soon. Some reports on social media have claimed that Punjab Kings have approached former England captain Eoin Morgan and former Sri Lanka and England head coach Trevor Bayliss, in addition to a former India manager.
Recently, Morgan has retired as England’s white ball captain. Bayliss has good experience in both the international and Indian Premier League and guided the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title twice in 2012 and 2014.
