new delhi, Oct 23
IPL 2025 finalists Punjab Kings on Thursday announced the appointment of former India cricketer Sairaj Bahutule as the new spin bowling coach ahead of the 2026 season.
Bahutule takes over from Sunil Joshi, who served in the role from 2023 to 2025, and is set to join the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Bahutule’s move to PBKS follows his stint with Rajasthan Royals (RR) during the 2025 season. He had earlier been part of RR’s coaching setup from 2018 to 2021 in the same capacity.
“I’m really excited to join Punjab Kings as a spin bowling coach for the upcoming IPL season. This is a team that plays a different brand of cricket, and I can see the potential is massive. They have a bunch of talented players, and I’m looking forward to working with them to refine their skills and help them reach new heights,” said Bahutule.
A former leg-spinner who represented India in two Tests and eight ODIs, Bahutule brings extensive coaching experience, having previously worked with Kerala, Gujarat, Vidarbha, and Bengal in domestic cricket. He also served as the spin bowling coach at the CoE for three years before rejoining RR for a short stint.
“We extend our sincere thanks to Sunil Joshi for his dedicated service and contribution to the Punjab Kings over the years. As we look forward, we are thrilled to welcome Sairaj Bahutule to our coaching staff.
Sairaj’s deep understanding of the game, particularly his extensive experience in grooming domestic bowlers and managing strategy, will be invaluable to our side. His expertise aligns perfectly with our vision of building a strong and cohesive bowling unit for the season ahead,” Satish Menon, PBKS CEO.
Bahutule will work alongside head coach Ricky Ponting, assistant coach Brad Haddin, fast bowling coach James Hope and Trevor Gonsalves. His immediate focus will be on providing inputs for player retentions, with the tentative deadline set for November 15, followed by preparations for the IPL 2026 auction, expected to take place in mid-December.
