IPL 2020: Ashwin Likely to Lose Captaincy of Kings XI Punjab, Might Be Traded To RR or DC

Ashwin reportedly is set to lose his captaincy of IPL team Kings XI Punjab. As per sources close to this development, Kings Eleven are not even willing on retaining Ashwin in the squad for IPL 2020.

India's leading off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has not being having the best of times in international cricket. After being ignored for the first Test match against West Indies, Ashwin reportedly is set to lose his captaincy of IPL team Kings XI Punjab. As per sources close to this development, Kings Eleven are not even willing on retaining Ashwin in the squad for IPL 2020. KXIP are contemplating options of trading Ashwin with couple of IPL franchises – Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, reported a leading media daily. The off-spinner, who was snapped up by Kings XI Punjab for Rs 7.8 crores in the auctions ahead of IPL 2018, has been leading the franchise for the last two seasons without much success. The Delhi Capitals have a brilliant run under their new captain Shreyas Iyer as the franchise qualified for the IPL play-offs for the first time in 7 years – finishing third in IPL 2019 – last year. The Royals on other hand have not had a stable run with their leadership as they have switched on and off between Ajinkya Rahane and Steve Smith. The report further stated that KXIP are thinking about giving the captaincy reigns to KL Rahul. Ashwin played 28 matches for KXIP and had 25 wickets (overall 125 wickets in 139 IPL games) but his failure to take the side to the play-offs has become his undoing. The Punjab-based franchise is also on the lookout for a new head coach after the exit of former New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson. They are in talks with the likes of Geroge Bailey and Darren Lehmann.