Kings XI Punjab have been renamed to Punjab Kings, the Indian Premier League franchise revealed on Wednesday. Punjab Kings tweeted the news along with a video and changed their social-media handles to the new name. Punjab Kings have played in all 13 seasons of the IPL thus far but they are yet to win a title. In IPL 2020, Punjab Kings finished sixth with 12 points from 14 matches despite a good start and a late reprisal in the tournament. The team released several big-ticket players ahead of the IPL 2021 auction including Glenn Maxwell, James Neesham and Sheldon Cottrell among others.
"We are now going to be official called as Punjab Kings," said Preity Zinta on Star Sports.
"I liked the name Kings XI," said captain KL Rahul. "But the team is a lot more than this XI. It's supposed to feel like a family, it's supposed to feel like a whole unit. Just a little change wouldn't harm," he added.
Commenting on change, Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon was quoted as saying by PTI in a press statement: "Punjab Kings is a more evolved brand name, and we understand it was a right time for us to move focus on the core brand itself.
"The change in brand identity is not about changing our brand ethos but celebrating our one-ness as we stand in unit like a family. The new logo honours the liveliness and vibrancy of the brand and provides modern elements, while we stand out from rest of the teams."
The IPL 2021 auction is scheduled for Thursday and Punjab Kings go into it with the highest salary cap among all teams of Rs. 53.2 crore.