IPL franchise Punjab Kings have reportedly parted ways with their head coach Trevor Bayliss and head of cricket development Sanjay Bangar days after securing the signature of Australia legend Ricky Ponting.
Bayliss was named PBKS head coach ahead of IPL 2023 succeeding Anil Kumble and leaves after being in charge of the franchise for just two seasons. On the other hand, Bangar’s reign lasted just one season having joined from Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2024.
PBKS haven’t qualified for the IPL playoffs 10 years in a row now and have finished a disappointing 9th and 8th their last two seasons despite constant chopping and change.
The franchise will also be on the lookout for a new full-time captain with Shikhar Dhawan announcing retirement from all forms of cricket in India earlier this year citing ‘lack of motivation’.
PBKS brought in Bayliss hoping the serial winner will engineer the franchise’s revival whose stocks continue to plummet with each season. The Australian has won titles across the globe as coach of various teams including the 2019 world cup with England, two IPL titles with Kolkata Knight Riders, Big Bash League with Sydney Sixers among others.
PBKS recently roped in Ponting who parted ways with Delhi Capitals after spending seven years with them.
“I’m very happy to be back in the IPL,” Ponting told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s been such a big part of my life, it’s been ten or 11 years now that I have been going to the IPL. The thing that keeps drawing me back is the level of cricket and the quality of players you get to work with.”
Ponting, who led Australia to two ODI World Cup titles as captain, acknowledged he was in talks with other IPL franchises for the coaching role but found ‘Project Punjab’ to be the most attractive.
“Yes, I was talking to a few teams, but it was “Project Punjab” which attracted me. It is a team that hasn’t had a lot of success over a long period of time, a team that’s changed coaches a lot, so I saw it as a challenge. The other exciting part is that I saw some really exciting youngsters last year at Kings that hopefully we can attract back to the team for this season and put together a team that is going to be good enough to win the IPL,” he said.
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