KXIP will be looking to turn its fortunes around

“Our vision and mission have always been to promote cricket, attract new audiences, provide global exposure to local talent and vice-versa, and play a fearless brand of cricket. And I believe we have been extremely successful in achieving all of these,” says Mohit Burman, a co-promoter and director of Kings XI Punjab.

The Kings XI Punjab players in a huddle during an IPL match against Mumbai Indians last year. “With scores of players coming in and going out every season and (considering) the nature of the sport, maintaining the right balance is what we are looking to do this year,” says Mohit Burman.

Kings XI Punjab, which finished at the bottom of the IPL table in 2016, managing only four wins out of 14 matches, will be looking to turn its fortunes around in the 10th edition of the tournament. Mohit Burman, a co-promoter and a director of the franchisee, spoke to Sportstar about Kings XI Punjab’s plans for the current season.

Question: What are your impressions on Kings XI Punjab’s journey so far?

Answer: It has been an enriching and rewarding decade-long journey. Ups and downs are always a part of that, and that’s what forges strong bonds. As owners, we were always confident that the IPL will revolutionise the way cricket is played across the world. What grabbed the eyeballs is the power of the IPL, which is a celebration of cricket and talent; it’s also entertainment. The IPL never ceases to amaze us each year. We have been fortunate to have like-minded sponsors and other partners on board and this has added to the entire experience.

Would you agree that your team has been an under-achiever?

Under-achiever? Depends on what you perceive as an achievement. At Kings XI Punjab, our vision and mission have always been to promote cricket, attract new audiences, provide global exposure to local talent and vice-versa, and play a fearless brand of cricket. And I believe we have been extremely successful in achieving all of these. If you have to quantify success, it obviously comes with trophies, but we believe in winning hearts. You need to understand that team-chemistry plays a major role in a team’s performance. With scores of players coming in and going out every season and (considering) the nature of the sport, maintaining the right balance is what we are looking to do this year. After all, it’s not about individual star power, it’s about the team. We’ve never been short of star power.

What are your expectations this season?

Kings XI Punjab has always played with its heart, and it intends to continue doing so while entertaining cricket fans all over the world. Winning the title after 10 years is of course a glorious dream, but meanwhile we would like to play good cricket and give our budding talent the opportunity to come to the forefront and display their skills.