Kings XI Punjab posted a tweet on Wednesday indicating that it will be the last tweet from their present account. "THIS IS OUR LAST TWEET! Thank you @Twitter and Sadde fans!" tweeted KXIP. Kings XI will reportedly change their name to Punjab Kings ahead of the upcoming IPL 2021 Auction and the tournament, as stated by news agency PTI on Monday. They are one of the three franchises along with Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore to have not won a single IPL trophy since the league's inception in 2008 despite having played in all seasons.
"The team was planning to change the name for a long time and thought it should be done before this IPL. So it is not a sudden decision," a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source had told PTI on Monday.
Kings XI's best run in the IPL came in 2014 when they finished runners-up to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Last season, despite starting well and a late reprisal after a slump they finished sixth with 12 points from 14 matches.
Kings XI have released Glenn Maxwell, Sheldon Cottrell, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, James Neesham and Karun Nair among others ahead of the auction.
KL Rahul led the team last season and will be the captain this season as well. Former India captain Anil Kumble is the team's head coach.
The player auction for IPL 2021 will be held in Chennai on Thursday and KXIP go into the auction with the highest salary cap of Rs. 53.2 crores.
Beside Rahul, Kings XI have the likes of Chris Gayle, Mandeep Singh, Nicholas Pooran and Mayank Agarwal in the squad.
With PTI inputs