Soon after the auctions, KXIP had released a list of six players who were in the race to become the team's next captain. Ashwin was one of the five players along with Yuvraj, Axar Patel, Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch and KL Rahul.

Preity Zinta’s team Kings XI Punjab on Monday named R Ashwin as their new skipper ahead of 11th edition of the Indian Premier League. With this, Ashwin has now become the tenth cricketer to lead the franchise. Glenn Maxwell (2017), Murali Vijay (2016), David Miller (2016), George Bailey (2014, 015), David Hussey (2012, 2013), Adam Gilchrist (2011, 2012), Mahela Jayawardene (2010), Kumar Sangakkara (2009) and Yuvraj Singh (2008) have led the franchise in the past. Virender Sehwag, director of cricket operations, revealed the name of the new skipper in a Facebook live session on KXIP's Facebook page.  

Beginning the conversation, Sehwag said that while 90% of the fans wanted Yuvraj to be the team's new captain, he wanted a different captain for his team. The Nawab of Najafgarh then said that the new captain was sitting besides him, and as the camera turned towards the left, the suspended unfolded.

Ashwin, who had been an intergal part of the Chennai Super Kings squad for eight years, finally bid adieu to the Yellow Brigade after Punjab bought him for a whopping 7.6 crore after a bidding war. Ashwin was a part of the Rising Pune Supergiant for the last two years as CSK served a two-year suspension.