Anil Kumble targets maiden IPL title after joining Kings XI Punjab

The Mohali-based franchise have never won the competition in its 12-year history, with the ex-India skipper having also missed out as a player

New Kings XI Punjab coach Anil Kumble is targeting a first Indian Premier League title after being confirmed as he team's new head coach.

The 48-year-old will take charge for the 2020 edition and becomes the Mohali-based franchise's fifth different coach in as many years.

Kumble replaces Mike Hesson, who led Kings XI to a sixth-place finish this year as they missed out on a play-off place on net run-rate.

Though he was team mentor of the Mumbai Indians during their successful IPL campaigns in 2013 and 2015, Kumble never won the title as a player.

Furthermore, Kings XI have only once progressed beyond the preliminary stage when they finished as runners-up in 2014, and Kumble wants that dismal run to change.

"The team has not won an IPL title as of yet, so that is our main goal," he told KXIP.in.

"In terms of the biggest challenge, we have seen in the recent past that the start has been good for Kings XI but after a couple of losses, the momentum shifts. We have been close to qualifying but we miss out by small margins.

"So it's important to keep the momentum over 14 games and have a sustained performance for the team to make it to the last four, where it's anybody's game."

The 13th IPL will begin in April but plans for the new campaign begin in earnest in December with the player auction.

"We will look at the balance of the team first, and identify areas where we need more reinforcements," added Kumble, who took 619 Test wickets for India. "There are some names we are discussing but a proper team plan will be put in place later."

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