IPL 2017: All you need to know about the Kings XI Punjab's coaching staff
Eleven players step out on the field in a cricket match and it is their job to bring their side to victory. But behind the scenes, sitting in the pavilion and leading the training sessions, are a number of people who have a bearing on the result as well.
They help the players sort out their niggles and keep fit. They assist them in ensuring their technique and their concentration doesn’t waiver. In the middle of a match, they see the overall picture better than the players who are caught up in their on-field struggles.
Between two equally matched teams, the coaching staff can be a crucial difference. IPL 2017 is a long competition, with each team playing at least 14 matches in less than two months, and the players can easily lose focus.
Here’s a look at the men who stand behind the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) players, ready to support them through the tough battle that lies ahead.
#1 Virender Sehwag continues as team mentor
Sehwag was named the mentor of the KXIP team last year and has also ascended to the role of heading the franchise’s cricket Operations and Strategy for 2017. To anyone who has followed Indian cricket even casually in the past, Sehwag needs no introduction.
An attacking batsmen for the Indian team, Sehwag was known for his explosive strike rate. His whack-every-ball style would have been perfect for T20, but he was past his prime by the time the Indian Premier League was formed and his record at the annual tournament was inconsistent before he retired.
Still, no one can doubt that his tips will be handy for his team. The Mohali-based franchise has been one of the worst-performing outfits in the tournament, finishing regularly in the bottom half and, in fact, was handed the wooden spoon for the past two years.
Sehwag would want to turn that record around in IPL 2017. If he doesn’t, the fans might start wondering whether he is the team’s unlucky mascot.