Ex-India star joins Punjab Kings as spin coach after leaving Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026: Report

Former India spinner Sairaj Bahutule is expected to be joining the Punjab Kings (PBKS) as their spin-bowling coach after having recently left the Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of IPL 2026. Bahutule, who was previously part of RR's support staff during IPL 2025, had left the franchise amid their ongoing coaching overhaul. He had joined the Rajasthan-based franchise after having spent three years as the spin bowling coach at BCCI's Centre of Excellnce (CoE) in Bengaluru.

According to a report by IANS, Bahutule has already started to do the scouting work for PBKS as the franchise make their plans for the IPL 2026 auction that is expected to be held later in December.

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“It is understood that Bahutule has started the scouting work for Punjab Kings ahead of the franchise making their plans for IPL 2026 auction in December," the report stated.

Bahutule is expected to take over the position left vacant by Sunil Joshi. The latter has left the IPL franchise to become a spin bowling coach at the CoE. If Bahutule does officially join PBKS, then he will be working alongside the team's support staff that includes head coach Ricky Ponting, assistant coach Brad Haddin, fast-bowling coach James Hopes and Trevor Gonsalves.

Multiple RR coaches have departed

Meanwhile, RR have been going through a coaching overhaul ever since the end of IPL 2025. The franchise had failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing ninth on the points table, and since then have made massive changes in their coaching set-up. After head coach Rahul Dravid stepped down from his position of the head coach, he was joined by Bahutule and Dishan Yagnik, both of whom also departed from the franchise. Additionally, RR's CEO Jake Lush McCrum has also resigned from his post.

Sangkkara to join RR?

The franchise have reportedly roped in Kumar Sangakkara as the side's head coach for the upcoming season. The former Sri Lanka batter has a history with RR as he had joined as their head coach back in 2021. Under his guidance, the side even ended up making it to the final in 2022 where they eventually lost to the Gujarat Titans. His stint came to an end when RR roped in Dravid after he guided India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title.