It is not just Sairaj Bahutule whose replacement the Punjab Kings franchise is looking for. A couple of other coaches have also resigned from the Ricky Ponting-headed support staff, forcing the franchise management to go in search of at least three new ones ahead of IPL 2027.
Brad Haddin, who was the fielding coach of the side, has exited along with fellow Australian James Hopes, who was the team’s fast-bowling coach. Sources say the two informed the Punjab Kings management only recently, and the franchise has started looking for replacements.
Haddin, a former Australian wicketkeeper, was the fielding coach of PBKS, while Hopes, a former Australian pacer, was the bowling coach under Ponting. Both are believed to have landed jobs in the Big Bash League (BBL). It has now been left to Ponting to decide on the new personnel, and sources say they could be finalised before the auction in mid-December.
Hopes was known to be close to Ponting, and he had, in fact, moved to the Punjab franchise along with Ponting from Delhi Capitals a couple of seasons ago. Haddin was a holdover from the previous management headed by Trevor Bayliss.
The PBKS management is believed to be in touch with Ponting, and decisions on, or interviews with, interested candidates will be taken up once Ponting has spoken to them. The management may suggest a few names, but in the end, it will be left to the head coach, one learns. “The head coach will take the call,” said a source. Ponting did not immediately respond to a query.
Bahutule resigned immediately after IPL 19 season to take up the spin-bowling coach role with the Indian team under Gautam Gambhir. A former member of the Rajasthan Royals team, Bahutule had joined the franchise ahead of IPL 19, having come in place of Sunil Joshi who took charge as a spin bowling coach at the Centre of Excellence (Coe) in home town Bengaluru.
