IPL: Kings XI Punjab Appoint Anil Kumble As Head Coach

Kumble will be replacing Mike Hesson who in August parted ways with the Punjab-based franchise after one season at helm with them.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisee Kings XI Punjab on Friday appointed Former Indian skipper Anil Kumble as their head coach for the upcoming season. According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, Kumble will also be put in charge of "all cricket-related affairs" of the team for the foreseeable future. With the signing, Kumble becomes the only Indian coach in the IPL. The report further stated that Kumble would make a presentation to the team management on his plans for the road ahead on October 19. Kumble, who is India's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, will be replacing Mike Hesson who in August parted ways with the Punjab-based franchise after one season at helm with them. Even though Hesson had signed a two-year contract, the 44-year-old left the role midway with the Punjab-based franchise, who finished sixth in this year's edition. Kings XI will be the third IPL team Kumble will be involved with. He started out as a player - and later captain - with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2008. He was then appointed as a mentor by the same team, before joining Mumbai Indians in a similar role in 2013. In June 2016, he was appointed as the head coach of the Indian men's team by BCCI for a period of one year but resigned due to "untenable" differences with captain Virat Kohli.