The recent coaching setup revamp has continued at the Punjab Kings (PBKS) camp. After former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting was appointed the head coach, Trevor’s Bayliss had to naturally move out of the setup. However, according to a report by ESPNCricinfo, the franchise board decided recently to also released their head of cricket development Sanjay Bangar along with Bayliss. 

Bangar joined PBKS back in December, 2023, while Bayliss has been with the franchise after the 2022 IPL. However, Bangar was also involved with the franchise in 2014 as their head coach and remained their until he accepted the offer of being India’s asistant coach in 2016. After being done with his India duties, he joined the Royal Challengers Bengaluru staff as well, first as a batting consultant and later as their head coach. He rejoined the Kings camp in December, 2023. 

Before Bayliss, former Indian skipper and head coach Anil Kumble was the franchise’s head coach between 2020 and 2022. Between Kumble and Bangar, PBKS had three other head coaches (Virender Sehwag, Brad Hodge and Mike Hesson). 

Ponting has been signed by PBKS for a four year contract that will last until 2028. 

“The biggest thing that I want to do at Punjab Kings is make everyone aware that it’s going to be a different place,” Ponting said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo. We are not going to sit back and just accept mediocrity and finish down the bottom and have other people sit back and talk about the way the franchise is going. It is going to be more dynamic. And people are going to be talking about this team and this franchise in a different way than ever before. 

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