Dubai: Kings XI Punjab’s (KXIP) new skipper KL Rahul on Tuesday (August 25, 2020) expressed that he shares a very good relationship with Anil Kumble and added that India’s former captain’s presence will make his life easier as a captain.

Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble is now the head coach of KXIP and having him around will help immensely this season, feels Rahul.

“To have someone like Anil Bhai around helps me immensely this season. I also share a very good relationship with him off the field, coming from the same state,” the 28-year old said in a video on IPL’s website. 

Notably, both Rahul and Kumble come from Karnataka.

“I think he (Kumble) will make my life as captain very easy. I know that he would be doing most of the planning and I just have to go out there in the middle and carry out the plans,” said Rahul. 

Rahul also shared his thoughts on MS Dhoni who recently retired from international cricket and said that playing with him has been an honour adding that every day has been a huge learning.

No words will ever be enough. Thank you Mahi bhai, for your patience, your guidance and constant support. You are and will always be an inspiration and the reason so many of us believed in our dreams. 7 forever. pic.twitter.com/EzHb3jFViT

— K L Rahul (@klrahul11) August 15, 2020

Rahul who will be playing his third season with the Punjab franchise talked about the importance of Caribbean Chris Gayle and expressed, “I have played with him for several years now and share a great friendship with him. He’s a great guy to have in our team. He will be part of our core group and with the kind of experience he has, he will definitely be somebody who will win a lot of games for us.”

Rahul also commented on Australia’s all-rounder Glen Maxwell and said, “Maxi has been with Kings XI before and has had a successful run here. He was one player that we were very clear going into the auctions that we really need in our line-up. On a given day, he will take down any bowling attack and we’ve felt that the last couple of seasons we have missed somebody like that, an impact player like that in the middle order.” 

Talking about the upcoming IPL edition, Rahul said, “Looking forward to the 2020 season, it’s not like the usual IPL season, it is going to be very different for all of us. I am excited and hopefully, we can make this season count and win a lot of games for my team.”

The IPL 2020 is slated to begin from September 19 after it was halted due to the COVID-19 outbreak across the world. The United Arab Emirates will host the season 13 of world’s one of the famous cricket leagues. The final will be played on November 10.