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PBKS Coaching Overhaul: Big news is emerging from the Punjab Kings (PBKS) camp ahead of the new Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 season. The franchise is set to make significant changes to its backroom staff. Two key members of the team's coaching staff, fielding coach Brad Haddin and fast-bowling coach James Hopes, have resigned from their positions.
Both Australian stalwarts have stepped down from their roles with Punjab Kings to take up new coaching responsibilities in Australia's prestigious Big Bash League (BBL).
Ricky Ponting Faces New Challenge: Search On for 3 Specialist Coaches
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The departures of Haddin and Hopes have created vacancies within the coaching setup led by head coach Ricky Ponting. Prior to this, the position of spin-bowling coach, previously held by Sairaj Bahutule, had also become vacant.
Punjab Kings must now find three new specialist coaches before the IPL 2027 mega/mini-auction and the commencement of training camps:
- Fast-bowling coach
- Fielding coach
- Spin-bowling coach
It is expected that head coach Ricky Ponting will personally lead the selection and interview process for the new support staff to ensure the team maintains the right balance.
Also Read: Dhananjaya de Silva Resigns as Sri Lanka Test Captain: Captaincy Record & Stats
Punjab Kings Under Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting: A Quick Recap
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Punjab Kings have established themselves as a strong and competitive team over the past few seasons. Following Shreyas Iyer's inclusion in the squad and his appointment as captain, the franchise's performance saw positive changes:
- IPL 2025 (Sensational Comeback & Runner-up Finish): Under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy and Ricky Ponting's guidance, PBKS delivered a spectacular performance in the 2025 season. The team reached the final and finished as runners-up (with Royal Challengers Bengaluru winning the title).
- IPL 2026 (Mixed Campaign & Playoff Miss): The team's momentum slowed down somewhat during the IPL 2026 season. While the campaign began impressively with consecutive wins, performance dipped mid-tournament. Consequently, the team slipped to fifth place on the points table and missed out on the playoffs by a very narrow margin.
Also Read: IND vs WI 2nd T20I: Match Date, Time, Venue, and Full Schedule
