Punjab Kings (PBKS), the perennial underachievers of the Indian Premier League (IPL), are poised to appoint former India batter Wasim Jaffer as their new head coach for the upcoming season. Jaffer, who previously served as PBKS’ batting consultant and batting coach, will succeed Trevor Bayliss, whose two-year contract expired.
Jaffer’s appointment marks his third stint with the Punjab franchise. He was released as the batting consultant ahead of the 2023 IPL season. The 46-year-old, who played 31 Tests and 2 ODIs for India, was the batting coach of PBKS from 2019-2021.
PBKS, who have not reached the playoffs since 2014, endured a disappointing IPL 2023 campaign, finishing ninth in the points table. Despite recording the highest successful run-chase in T20 cricket earlier this year, chasing down 262 at the Eden Gardens to beat Kolkata Knight Riders, the team struggled for consistency.
Bayliss, a World Cup-winning coach who also guided Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL trophies, failed to transform PBKS into a consistent outfit. His three-year tenure ended with the team finishing in the bottom half of the table.
Jaffer’s appointment is expected to bring a fresh approach to the franchise. His experience as a player and coach, coupled with his knowledge of the IPL, could prove invaluable for PBKS.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to meet with all 10 IPL teams on July 31 to discuss the number of retentions teams can make and the Right to Match (RTM) options ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
