Kings XI Punjab have opted to retain the services of Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, according to the franchise’s co-owner Ness Wadia.

Earlier, it was reported that the Punjab team was considering trading their skipper Ashwin to the Delhi Capitals.

However, on the advise of their newly appointed head coach Anil Kumble, the team has decided to not let go of the all-rounder.  Kumble, who replaced Mike Hesson in the role, is currently the only Indian coach in the IPL. He previously served as a mentor for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.

“The (KXIP) Board had a rethink and it realized that Ashwin is an integral part of the team. There were discussions with Delhi Capitals but those discussions never came to fruition. The way he plays his cricket and his performances speak for him,” Wadia was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The 33-year-old Ashwin has been the captain of the team for the past two seasons. Under his captaincy, they failed to qualify for the play-offs in both seasons, finishing seventh in 2018 and sixth most recently in 2019. Kings XI Punjab has never won the IPL title and have only qualified for the knockouts twice. Their best ever season of the IPL was the 2014 edition in which they finished runners-up to Chennai Super Kings.