He Indian Premier League franchise Kings of Punjab (PBKS) has strategically strengthened its coaching staff ahead of the IPL 2026 season by appointing a new spin bowling coach. Bahutule, a veteran of Indian domestic cricket with vast coaching experience, replaces Sunil Joshiwho is reportedly transitioning to a role at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. This movement is a clear indication of the Preity Zinta The co-owned franchise’s commitment to building a strong and cohesive bowling unit, particularly after reaching the final of IPL 2025 under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. The appointment is seen as a key component of their long-term strategy for the upcoming player auction and new season.
Punjab Kings new spin bowling coach for IPL 2026
Sairaj BahutuleThe appointment is a significant development in PBKS’s training setup, bringing decades of strategic and on-field knowledge to the team. The Mumbai player had a stellar first-class career, with a remarkable 630 wickets in 188 matches, complemented by 197 wickets in List A games, along with his brief international career of 2 Tests and 8 ODIs for India. This extensive background gives him a deep and practical understanding of spin bowling in Indian conditions.
His coaching resume is equally impressive, having coached several national teams such as Kerala, Gujarat, Vidarbha and Bengaland a previous season with the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals from 2018 to 2021. This deep commitment to the domestic circuit aligns perfectly with the franchise’s objective of developing young Indian talent and optimizing bowling strategies in the T20 formats, ensuring that its core unit is strategically sound for the upcoming season.
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Focus on strategic cohesion and potential of players under Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting
The move comes as Punjab look to maintain their recent success, which saw them reach the final of IPL 2025 before losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Franchise management, led by the CEO satish menonemphasized the value Bahutule brings to the locker room, particularly in terms of strategic management. Welcoming the new coach, Menon said: “We extend our sincere thanks to Sunil Joshi for his dedicated service and contribution to the Punjab Kings over the years. As we look to the future, we are delighted to welcome Sairaj Bahutule to our coaching staff. Sairaj’s deep knowledge of the game, particularly his extensive experience in preparing domestic bowlers and managing strategies, will be invaluable to our side.”
His experience aligns perfectly with our vision of building a strong and cohesive bowling unit for the upcoming season.” Bahutule reflected this enthusiasm, acknowledging the team’s aggressive style of play and the raw talent at their disposal: “I am very excited to join Punjab Kings as spin bowling coach for the upcoming IPL season. This is a team that plays a different type of cricket and I can see that the potential is huge. They have a lot of talented players and I am looking forward to working with them to hone their skills and help them reach new heights.” This mutual vision indicates a concentrated effort to leverage their experience to polish the spinning department.
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