New Delhi: Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) co-owner Ness Wadia said Wednesday that the franchise and former skipper Ravichandran Ashwin have amicably decided to part ways even though Delhi Capitals is still not a done deal. KL Rahul is expected to lead the side after Ashwin’s departure.
KXIP has been negotiating with Delhi Capitals for the past two months but now it has come to light that a few other teams are also interested in Ravichandran Ashwin, who captained the Punjab franchise for the past two seasons but could not take the side to the play-offs.
“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,” Ness Wadia said.
“We (Ashwin and KXIP) have amicably come to a conclusion that we should part ways and now we are trying to get the best fit, 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,” added Wadia.
Wadia had last month said that the KXIP board had a re-think on Ravichandran 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 trade-off have resumed.
The announcement will have to be made before the IPL transfer window closes November 14.
Under Ashwin’s leadership, KXIP showed a lot of promise in the first half of the past two seasons before losing momentum in the second. They finished seventh in 2018 and sixth in 2019.
PTI
