Wasim Jaffer will be Punjab Kings’ next head coach, succeeding Trevor Bayliss, whose two-year contract ended.
The Indian Express understands that the former India opener old will return to the Mohali-based franchise ahead of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
This will be Jaffer’s third stint with the Punjab Kings. Ahead of the IPL 2024, Jaffer was released from the role of batting consultant.
Jaffer was the batting coach of Punjab Kings between 2019-2021 but stepped down from his role before the IPL 2022 auction. However, he will again be back in the Punjab dugout for the upcoming season.
Jaffer, who has played 31 Tests for India will be an uphill task for Jaffer as Punjab Kings, one of the eight founding member of the IPL have failed to make it to the playoffs for ten straight season, since the 2014 edition, where they made their only appearance in the IPL final.
In the IPL 2024, the Punjab Kings finished ninth at the points table as they managed only five wins. Interestingly, the IPL’s perennial underachievers remained hot and cold throughout the tournament. At one hand they recorded the highest successful run chase in T20 cricket, were they chased down 262 at the Eden Gardens against Kolkata Knight Riders and defeated five-time champion Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk but still failed to get the momentum.
The injury to captain Shikhar Dhawan had also played a pivotal role, and it would be interesting to see whether they stick with the southpaw, who will turn 39, later this year.
Punjab Kings poor run at home also didn’t helped their cause either. Out of its seven home games this season, five at its new stadium in Mullanpur, and two in Dharamsala, Punjab Kings registered a solitary win.
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