Ahead of IPL 2026 season,Punjab Kings have now roped in another experienced former player in the form of India legspinner Sairaj Bahutule as their new spin bowling coach. He takes over from Sunil Joshi who stepped down in May after spending three seasons as coach to move to Bengaluru as spin coach at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
This development follows Punjab Kings’ magnificent performance in IPL 2025, finishing runners-up after losing a close final clash by six runs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With an eye on improving their fortunes in the next season, the franchise has roped in Bahutule’s services as he comes with a lot of coaching and playing experience.
Bahutule has been one of Indian domestic cricket’s most strategically adept coaches for some time. He had earlier served as the spin-bowling coach of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 and did a similar role for them from 2018 to 2021 as well. His coaching career too has seen stints at National Cricket Academy and as the coach of India A, where played a role in moulding several upcoming bowlers.
PBKS CEO Satish Menon expressed his joy at the appointment and earned praise for Bahutule, saying that he was a good fit for the team’s future. Menon lauded his deep knowledge about the game and also ability to nurture young bowlers and handle strategies under pressure. He said he was positive that Bahutule would add more value to the Punjab bowling department and aid in taking the team up.
Bahutule himself was excited about joining the franchise. He praised the aggressive brand of cricket played by Punjab Kings and said that the team has a lot of potential going into IPL 2026. He also said he was excited to work with their talented group of players, “and help them to play to the best of their abilities and on a consistent basis.”
Bahutule will be working with a coaching line-up that already consists of head coach Ricky Ponting, assistant coach Brad Haddin, fast-bowling coach James Hopes and assistant bowling Trevor Gonsalves for the 2026 season. As a package, they constitute one of the most experienced and varied backroom staffs in the IPL.
Bahutule’s switch from Rajasthan Royals to Punjab Kings coincides with a wider shift in the league, where Rahul Dravid left RR as their head coach and was replaced by Kumar Sangakkara. But for Punjab, it is change as continuity not disruption. The franchise has created a competitive unit with a degree of permanence and is now looking to fine-tune its plans in critical areas such as spin bowling.
Sairaj Bahutule’s hiring and the presence of a battle-tested leadership group has Punjab Kings hard-charging into IPL 2026 with a sense of purpose and direction: to concretize their agonizingly elusive hold on the IPL trophy.
