Former India leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule is expected to join Punjab Kings (PBKS) as their new spin bowling coach ahead of the 2026 IPL season. He was previously part of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) support
staff during IPL 2025 and is understood to have moved on from the franchise, which is currently undergoing significant changes in its backroom staff.
Bahutule, who played two Tests and eight ODIs for India, joined RR last year after a three-year stint as a spin bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. He worked with the franchise from 2018 to 2021 in the same capacity.
Sources informed IANS that Bahutule is anticipated to bring his extensive experience to the PBKS line-up, who finished as runners-up in IPL 2025. “It is understood that Bahutule has started the scouting work for Punjab Kings ahead of the franchise making their plans for IPL 2026 auction in December,” sources further revealed.
RR Clean out?
Bahutule becomes the third coach, following Rahul Dravid and Dishant Yagnik, to leave RR after the team finished ninth in the IPL 2025 points table. At PBKS, Bahutule will take over the role left vacant by Sunil Joshi’s departure.
Joshi, who played 15 Tests and 69 ODIs for India and served as a member of the senior men’s selection committee, including a brief tenure as the panel chairman, has left PBKS to become the spin bowling coach at the CoE in Bengaluru.
In addition to Bahutule, other members of the PBKS support staff include head coach Ricky Ponting, assistant coach Brad Haddin, fast bowling coach James Hopes, and Trevor Gonsalves.
On Thursday, Lucknow Super Giants announced veteran New Zealand cricketer Kane Williamson as their new strategic advisor, while retaining head coach Justin Langer and recruiting Carl Crowe as their spin bowling coach ahead of the IPL 2026 season.
(With inputs from IANS)
