Follow UsFormer India leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule has been appointed Punjab Kings' (PBKS) spin bowling coach, ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the franchise announced on October 23 (Thursday). Bahutule previously served as the spin bowling coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR) and has also worked with Kerala, Gujarat, Vidarbha and Bengal in the domestic structure.
"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," PBKS CEO Satish Menon said.
Bahutule replaces Sunil Joshi, who was in charge between 2023 and 2025.
Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon said, “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.
“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 also said that he is looking forward to working with the team. “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.
PBKS finished top of the IPL 2025 points table, but lost the final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Along with Bahutule, RR had previously let go of their head coach, Rahul Dravid.