IPL 2019: Virender Sehwag ends his association with Kings XI Punjab

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag who held the position as the mentor of the Kings XI Punjab team has decided to end his association with the franchise. Ahead of the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Sehwag put out a statement on social media to announce the end of his term. He was a part of the decision-making body at KXIP as they attempted to change fortunes, but it was not to be.

There were several reports of a rift between the Punjab team owner Preity Zinta and Sehwag. While both of them had quashed such claims, the team certainly didn’t manage to get the kind of results that were expected. They brought Sehwag on board in 2015 and the intentions were clear, the team needed results having failed to win the trophy in the first eight seasons.

Sehwag couldn’t change their fortunes

In IPL 2016, Sehwag’s first year as the mentor they ended up with the wooden spoon, the team moved a few spots up to number 5 in the following year and again in 2018, they were the second but last on the points table. Kings had made wholesale changes in the line-up at the IPL 2018 auction. Ravichandran Ashwin was added to the side and appointed the skipper, KL Rahul opened the innings along with Chris Gayle but all that didn’t translate into success either.

Kings XI did make quite a few “bold decisions” during the course of the tournament but none of it made a difference in the end. Thus it was expected once again that the management will want to change the strategy or the leadership. Sehwag in his statement said that every good thing has to end at some point and this is the end of his wonderful time with the franchise as their mentor.

Sehwag wrote- “All good things must come to an end and I’ve had a wonderful time at Kings 11 Punjab, for 2 seasons as a player and 3 as a mentor. My association with Kings 11 comes to an end and I am thankful for the time I have had here and wish the team all the very best for the times ahead.”

Here is the tweet:

All good things must come to an end and I've had a wonderful time at Kings 11 Punjab, for 2 seasons as a player and 3 as a mentor. My association with Kings 11 comes to an end and I am thankful for the time I have had here and wish the team all the very best for the times ahead.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 3, 2018

More to follow…

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