Punjab Kings (PBKS) have announced the departure of their head coach, Trevor Bayliss, and head of cricket development, Sanjay Bangar ahead of IPL 2025 auction.
Punjab Kings' coaching staff undergoes major revamp
This decision comes after a recent announcement appointing Ricky Ponting as the franchise's new head coach ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Bayliss, who had joined PBKS after the 2022 IPL season, and Bangar, a December 2023 addition, will no longer be part of the team's coaching staff. The franchise's choice of Ponting as their new head coach comes shortly after his dismissal from the Delhi Capitals.
Ricky Ponting has signed a four-year contract with the Punjab Kings (PBKS) franchise, granting him the authority to select his own coaching staff. According to ESPNcricinfo, the franchise has decided to part ways with Trevor Bayliss and Sanjay Bangar as part of a complete overhaul of their coaching staff aimed at breaking their title drought and improving their performance. Sanjay Bangar has been a significant part of the PBKS franchise for a considerable period, with his first stint as head coach dating back to 2014, which lasted until 2016. Following this, he held coaching positions with the Indian team and Royal Challengers Bengaluru before returning to Punjab. Meanwhile, Bayliss was appointed as the head coach of the franchise after the 2022 IPL season, succeeding Anil Kumble in the role.
Punjab Kings' struggles and leadership changes
Following their strong performance in 2009, the Punjab Kings' consistency faltered. From 2009 to 2013, they occupied mid-to-lower table positions, with their best finish being 5th in 2009 and 2011. A turning point came in 2014 when they narrowly missed the championship, losing to the Kolkata Knight Riders in the final. Despite the high expectations that followed their impressive 2014 season, the Punjab Kings faced a decline from 2015 to 2019, finishing in the lower half of the table, including last-place finishes in 2015 and 2016. The subsequent years saw them occupy positions between 6th and 8th, culminating in a 9th-place finish in IPL 2024. PBKS have made numerous changes to their leadership over the years, and this trend will continue with the appointment of a new captain for IPL 2025. This change is necessitated by the retirement of their current skipper, Shikhar Dhawan.
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