Punjab Kings (PBKS) have officially parted ways with head coach Trevor Bayliss and head of cricket development Sanjay Bangar ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
This decision comes as part of the franchise’s ongoing efforts to revamp its coaching staff following a disappointing performance in recent seasons.
The board, which includes the four co-owners of the franchise, made this decision after the team finished eighth in the 2023 IPL season and ninth the previous year. This follows a trend for PBKS, who have struggled to find consistent success in the tournament, failing to secure an IPL title since the league’s inception.
Bayliss, who took over as head coach after IPL 2022, had replaced Anil Kumble, while Bangar, who initially served as head coach from 2014 to 2016, returned to the franchise in December 2023 after various roles, including a stint as an assistant coach for the Indian national team and a batting consultant for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
In a significant move, Punjab Kings recently appointed former Australian captain Ricky Ponting as their new head coach. Ponting expressed his ambition for the franchise.
“The biggest thing that I want to do at Punjab Kings is make everyone aware that it’s going to be a different place. We are not going to sit back and just accept mediocrity… It is going to be more dynamic. And people are going to be talking about this team and this franchise in a different way than ever before.”
This overhaul in coaching staff is part of PBKS’s broader strategy to find a winning formula, aiming to transform the team’s fortunes in the IPL as they prepare for the next season.
