IPL franchise outfit Kings XI Punjab expect to break even in 2010 after this year’s Twenty20 event could not be held at home.

The second edition of the IPL was shifted to South Africa after the T20 extravagnaza clashed with the general elections.

“We hoped to break even this year before the tournament was shifted to South Africa. By next year we will be very close to break even,” industrialist Mohit Burman, one of the co-owners of the team told a media conference at a function organised to announce team’s title sponsors ‘Emirates’.

Besides Emirates, with whom they have tied up multi-million dollar deal for three years, Kings XI have also tied-up with Gulf Oil, Nimbooz, Netlinkblue, Reebok, Springbok International, Royal Challenge, Dabur Glucose D and Orbit.

More sponsors this time

The number of sponsors for Kings XI this year is more than what they had got last year which was the then highest among all the eight franchise outfits, it was announced.

But getting these sponsors on board this year was a struggle because of the economic downturn, admitted Bollywood actress and co-owner Preity Zinta.

“A lot of deals we were planning got affected. We were close to signing up a few sponsors which got canceled as the event was shifted to South Africa. However, as they say everything happens for the best and we have some top brands on our T-shirt”, she said.
Source – espnstar.com

“Munaf (Patel) did a good job last year. Sidharth Dwivedi is also there and then we also have Shaun Tait this year, so overall I think we would be able to cover up well for Tanvir though I must say he did exceptionally well last year,” Salunkhe said.

Salunkhe who would primarily be in the side as a leg-spinning all-rounder who can use the long handle when the need arises said that he would be looking to bowl a tidy line and length and would primarily focus on control.

“Right line would be crucial”

He said that conditions in South Africa would not assist spinners much and that is why landing the ball in the right areas would be the key.

“South African conditions would not assist spinners so I would try to bowl a good line and length. Control would be the key and I am looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

Salunkhe who plays for Mumbai in the domestic circuit then spoke about his relationship with skipper Shane Warne and what he learnt from the wizard of spin during the IPL’s first edition.

The Mahela dismissal

He also narrated the famous Mahela Jayawardene dismissal during their match against Kings XI Punjab.

“Warne got rid of Kumar Sangakkara and then when I went to congratulate him he asked me to get Jayawardene’s wicket. I was surprised but then he told me what to do and I finally lapped up the wicket”.

“He is a master of the game. He has taught me a lot of things like the slider, the winning attitude, confidence.”

“The only thing which the skipper said was to go and get the batsmen. ‘Do not think about anything else.’ He gave so much confidence that each of us wanted to deliver more than our abilities,” said Salunkhe.

“We are under no pressure”

Salunkhe who has played six T20 matches and has picked up a wicket with a not so impressive economy rate of 9.75 said that the team is under no pressure, though they are the defending champions.

“We will play with the same kind of attitude and would definitely do well this time again,” he said.

Speaking about his career, the 27-year-old said that the IPL matured him as a player.

“I was a novice cricketer when I won the ‘Cricket Star’ competition and was sent to Leicestershire to train but now after the IPL I have learnt a lot and I think I have matured a lot as a cricketer as well. Playing with such biggies and sharing dressing room with players like Warne and Graeme Smith has certainly helped,” concluded the all-rounder.
Source – espnstar.com

Kings XI Punjab captain Yuvraj Singh has admitted that his team’s depleted bowling stocks is a worry ahead of IPL.

Australia fast bowlers Brett Lee and James Hopes were both called up for national duty for the series against Pakistan leaving their availability for the IPL limited to about two weeks in May.

Kings XI’s leading bowler S Sreesanth has already been ruled out due to injury, but Yuvraj Singh is confident the rest of the squad would lift their game.

“We have a good team this season although the worry is the pace department,” Yuvraj said.

Yuvi banking on batting

“However, our batting is pretty strong. We have Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who are available for the whole tournament.

“We also have Ravi Bopara this year and he can bowl a bit.

“I’m sure they would all rise to the occasion.”

Yuvi keen to repeat his T20 WC exploits

Yuvraj dazzled with the bat during India’s triumph in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007 and Yuvraj is keen to return to the scene of one his greatest exploits.

“I didn’t do too well on the tour of New Zealand,” he said.

“Obviously, you can’t score big in every series when you are a stroke-maker but I hope to make amends in the IPL. I am keen to test my skills with the bat.

“The pitches in South Africa are all good for batting perhaps with the exception of Durban. The wicket there is a bouncy.

“But individual feats look nice only if your team does well. It’s important to consistently win matches.”
Source – espnstar.com

Bollywood actor and owner of the Kings XI Punjab, Preity Zinta, introduced her team in Mumbai last evening.

When asked by the media Zinta, said that there were some new inclusions in her team.

“We have a new boy called Bird Cocklin who is an Australian. He is one of the best fast bowlers there. He bowls at over 140 kilometers an hour. I think you would know of him only when you see him play. We also have Yusaf Abdullah, who is one of the best T-20 bowlers,” she said.

Yuvraj Singh, who is the captain of the Kings XI Punjab team, said that the Indian Premier League (IPL) would be a good exposure before the T-20 World Cup to be staged in England in June.

“I think IPL has come at the right time before the World Cup. Before the World Cup, we are going to have fourteen games to get into the semifinals which will give us a lot practice,” said Yuvraj Singh.

The IPL, which involves many of the world’s leading players, was a huge success in its inaugural edition in cricket-crazy India last year, primarily because it is structured around city-based franchises with a fan base in home and away matches.The eight-team league would be staged in South Africa from April 18 due to security reasons and would return to India next season.
Source – dailyindia.com

Kings XI Punjab will be sporting new colours in the second edition of the DLF Indian Premier League that commences on April 18 in South Africa.

The Punjab based team has signed a three-year multi-million dollar deal with Dubai based airline Emirates.

The new jersey was unveiled in Mumbai on Saturday with skipper Yuvraj Singh and co-owner Preity Zinta sporting the new look. The team‘s jersey has been conceptualized by the team’s co owner Zinta and their partner – Reebok.

Dubai-based Emirates airline will be the team’s title sponsors with eight other brands- Gulf Oil, Nimbooz, Netlinkblue, Reebok, Springbok Intl, Royal Challenge, Dabur Glucose-D and Orbit.

Mohit Burman, co-owner of Kings XI Punjab, said: “We will create the same buzz in South Africa as we would have created in India”.

Kings XI Punjab started the first season of DLF Indian Premier League on a disastrous note losing its first opening two matches ,but then recovered its lost ground and went on to play the semi finals against Chennai Super Kings.
Source – khabrein.info