Punjab Kings appoint Sairaj Bahutule as spin bowling coach ahead of IPL 2026 – cricexec
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The veteran Indian spinner joins PBKS in a key backroom role as the franchise focuses on building a more balanced bowling attack for the upcoming season
By Cricexec Staff
| 5:37 am
Photo Credit: LinkedIn Profile Photo of Sairaj Bahutule
Punjab Kings have appointed former India leg-spinner and veteran coach Sairaj Bahutule as their new spin bowling coach for the 2026 IPL season. The 52-year-old replaces Sunil Joshi, who served in the role from 2023 to 2025 and is now expected to take up a position at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Bahutule’s arrival marks another strategic step in Punjab Kings’ coaching overhaul under head coach Ricky Ponting, who leads a backroom team featuring Brad Haddin (assistant coach), James Hopes (fast bowling coach), and Trevor Gonsalves (assistant bowling coach).
Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon welcomed the appointment and praised both the incoming and outgoing coaches.
“We extend our sincere thanks to Sunil Joshi for his dedicated service and contribution to the Punjab Kings over the years. As we look forward, we are thrilled to welcome Sairaj Bahutule to our coaching staff,” said Menon.
“Sairaj’s deep understanding of the game, particularly his extensive experience in grooming domestic bowlers and managing strategy, will be invaluable to our side. His expertise aligns perfectly with our vision of building a strong and cohesive bowling unit for the season ahead,” he added.
Bahutule, who played two Tests and eight ODIs for India, has carved out a respected coaching career since retiring from professional cricket. He has held spin coaching and support staff roles with multiple domestic teams, including Kerala, Vidarbha, Gujarat, and Bengal. In the IPL, he most recently served as spin bowling coach for Rajasthan Royals in 2025 and had earlier stints with the franchise from 2018 to 2021.
He was also part of India A’s support staff during his time at the National Cricket Academy and is well known for mentoring young spinners across formats.
Sharing his thoughts on joining PBKS, Bahutule said he was eager to work with the current squad and contribute to the franchise’s ambitions after a strong IPL 2025 campaign, where the team topped the league table and finished as runners-up.
“I’m really excited. This is a team that plays a different brand of cricket, and I can see that the potential is massive. They have a bunch of talented players, and I’m looking forward to working with them to refine their skills and help them reach new heights,” he said.
Punjab Kings’ 2025 IPL run saw them fall just short of the title, losing a closely contested final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six runs. The franchise’s emphasis this off-season has been on continuity in leadership and targeted additions to bolster coaching expertise — Bahutule’s appointment being a key part of that strategy.
With a strong spin unit already in place and Bahutule’s reputation for developing domestic bowlers, PBKS will look to build on their momentum heading into IPL 2026.
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