Punjab Kings are expected to appoint England’s 2019 World Cup-winning coach Trevor Bayliss as their head coach for the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League, reports PTI. The news comes 10 days after the franchise let the world know that Anil Kumble’s contract will not be renewed.
In the three seasons Kumble was their head coach, Punjab finished 6th in all of those seasons and the side have failed to qualify for the playoffs since 2014, the longest run for any team in the Premier League. Bayliss is the sixth different individual at the helm as head coach since 2014, after Sanjay Bangar, Brad Hodge, Virender Sehwag, Mike Hesson and Kumble.
Bayliss comes into the side with plenty of experience under his belt. The former Australian cricketer was instrumental in changing the fortunes of England men’s team, for whom he was the head coach from 2015 to 2019 until they won the World Cup at the Lord’s.
Besides that, Bayliss is one of the few coaches in IPL to have had multiple successes, having won the tournament twice with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 and 2014. He had a forgettable stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad between 2020 and 2021, wherein the franchise began hitting new lows after his arrival.
However, this time it could be a lot different as the 59-year-old will get to work with plenty of young talents who are well-versed with the modern-day game. Jonny Bairstow, who was an integral part of Bayliss’s England side, will be at the crux once again, as well as Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shikhar Dhawan, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar are all capable individuals who can add great value to the side.
The Punjab Kings as a franchise have been incredibly underwhelming in their tenure in the IPL. After reaching the semifinals in the inaugural season of the tournament, it took them six years to make their way to the top four once again. Now, it has been eoght years since they last reached the playoffs, and they are desperate to end this unwanted drought.
