Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) co-owner Ness Wadia has heaped praise on the multi-talented KL Rahul, describing the KXIP captain as a “versatile player in Indian cricket” at the moment.
The Karnataka star is doing multiple duties for the KXIP in the ongoing tournament, as he has been captaining the team for the first time in the IPL while performing both as wicket-keeper and batsman.
The stylish right-hander has been in incredible form in the ongoing IPL 2020 and is the leading run-getter at the moment with 222 runs in three matches, including one hundred and a fifty for KXIP.
Wadia said on Amstrad InsideSport Face 2 Face cricket series: “As one can recollect, we went very strong for KL Rahul in the auctions. Show me a more versatile player in Indian cricket at the moment. He can open, he can go down to number four and he can go down to number six.”
The co-owner also believes that the KXIP has an exceedingly well-balanced team for the ongoing 13th edition of the IPL while hailing Anil Kumble as the head coach of the franchise.
He further added, “I think we've got an exceedingly well-balanced team with an exceedingly well-balanced director and coach in Anil Kumble. His experience, his respect, his wisdom just stands out. He is a phenomenal bowler, a phenomenal leader, and a nice person. He is humble, simple, to the point, and very professional.”
The KXIP co-owner further revealed that a lot of doubters had thought that IPL 2020 would never take place amid the COVID-19 pandemic but he had full confidence that the tournament would go ahead.
He added, “I was not one of them. I knew all along that it would happen. I had full faith in the BCCI and the IPL that it would happen. I think there was a lot of to and fro with the International Cricket Council (ICC) as well.”
On the IPL 13 being held in the UAE giving an analogy, Wadia said: “In every business, you have a good year and a bad year and ups and downs. And I think this is one of those years where one has to look at the glass half full.”
In the ongoing IPL 13, everyone including the owners is having a new experience being there with the COVID-19 restrictions put in place at the stadiums and Wadia said: “It's a different experience and quite intriguing when you are in a stadium and there are no fans around. It just means we have to shout more and cheer more. We have to adapt and adjust and that is what we are doing.”
He signed off by saying, “It might be pretty peaceful actually from an owner's perspective because for a lot of owners, when you go to your home grounds, you have so many fans asking you things, wanting things and it might be pretty peaceful from our perspective, also. You have a more relaxed time and you get to enjoy the game and focus more. Here you have a restriction of eight people, so it is a different experience. I wouldn't say its better but it's unique and more peaceful for sure.”
(With IANS Inputs)
