Punjab Kings lose fast‑bowling coach James Hopes and fielding coach Brad Haddin as they depart for BBL roles.
Hopes has been appointed head coach of Queensland and the Brisbane Heat, while Haddin will lead New South Wales— the duo's exits leave Ricky Ponting scrambling to fill two crucial gaps before the next IPL season.
Earlier this year, the franchise also fired spin‑bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, who moved to the Indian men’s team. The Kings began 2026 with a blistering six‑match win streak, sitting atop the points table for almost a month. Their unbeaten run stretched to seven games, including a no‑result, before a brutal second‑half collapse saw them lose six in a row.
They capped the campaign with a victory over Lucknow Super Giants, but the late rebound wasn’t enough to secure a playoff berth. The team finished 15 points, fifth in the standings—just one point shy of Rajasthan Royals, who clinched the final playoff spot with 16 points.
With Ponting now facing a rebuild, the Kings will need to assemble a new coaching cadre and find fresh strategies to counter the rising competition. The pressure mounts as the franchise looks to return to the finals in 2027.
Next up, Punjab Kings will host the upcoming IPL season opener, hoping to salvage the season’s narrative.