The Punjab Kings’ decade-long playoff drought in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been attributed to “inconsistency in leadership,” according to former head coach Tom Moody. The franchise has appointed 15 different captains in 17 seasons, a factor that Moody believes has hindered their progress.
“I think it is a pretty good indication of why they have their struggles,” Moody told IANS. “They have many changes with regards to leadership whether it be on field or off field. There seems to always be that inconsistency when it comes to what direction their leadership is taking both on and off the field. Therefore that inconsistency is naturally going to flow into what happens on the field.”
Moody, who coached Punjab to their first playoff appearance in 2008, emphasized the importance of stability in leadership. He pointed to his successful tenure with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he led the team to five playoff appearances and the title in 2016.
Despite Punjab’s struggles, Moody expressed optimism about the future of Indian cricket. He praised the emergence of young players like Riyan Parag and Abhishek Porel, who have impressed in the ongoing IPL season.
“The future is very bright, the IPL always uncovers many domestic players showcase their talents,” Moody said. “We’ve seen many grow as the seasons unfold and a good example of that is Riyan Parag at Rajasthan. He has been in the IPL for a number of years, he is still a young player but this year has been a breakout season for him and it sort of put his name on the radar as a future potential Indian player.”
“Another example of that is (Abhishek) Porel from the Delhi Capitals, he is another one that has had a really good season. It is great to have a platform like this where not only Indian players but overseas players can showcase their skills in the best T20 tournament in the world.”
