India Test cricketer and domestic veteran Wasim Jaffer has been appointed batting coach of the Kings XI Punjab ahead of the next year's edition of the IPL. Jaffer's signing was confirmed by KXIP on its website after persuasion from the franchise's new head coach and his ex-teammate, Anil Kumble. 

"I’m thankful to Kumble," Jaffer told TOI on Wednesday (December 18).  "He’s the one who approached me. It was an honour to play under him for India. I’ve got so much to learn from him. Though I’m currently coaching in Bangladesh (he’s the batting coach at the Bangladesh Cricket Board academy), this is obviously a good opportunity, and I’m looking forward to this experience."

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Besides being a prolific first-class run-scorer over the years, the 41-year-old has played six games of IPL in its inaugural edition for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, scoring 115 runs at a strike-rate of 110.57. So, when asked how he would go about handling each batsman's issues for the shortest version when he didn't like playing it much himself, Jaffer said: "Yes, but according to me, batting remains the same, though the game has become a bit fast. I’d be happy to learn from the many great players around me in the IPL. I’d be glad to pass on my ‘little’ knowledge to the youngsters, particularly the Indians."

Jaffer has played 254 first-class games, including 31 Tests for India, and just recently became the most capped Ranji Trophy cricketer so far. 

(Inputs from PTI)