New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Former India leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule is likely to join Punjab Kings (PBKS) as their new spin bowling coach ahead of the 2026 IPL season. He was a part of the Rajasthan Royals support staff in IPL 2025, and is understood to have moved on from the franchise, which is in the midst of a major shake-up to their backroom staff.

Bahutule, who played two Tests and eight ODIs for India, joined RR only last year after concluding a three-year stint as a spin bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. He worked in the same capacity with the franchise from 2018 to 2021.

Sources aware of the development have told IANS that Bahutule is potentially expected to bring his vast experience to the PBKS line-up, who finished IPL 2025 as runners-up. “It is understood that Bahutule has started the scouting work for Punjab Kings ahead of the franchise making their plans for IPL 2026 auction in December,” further said sources.

Bahutule becomes the third coach after Rahul Dravid and Dishant Yagnik to leave RR after the side finished at the ninth spot in the IPL 2025 points table. At PBKS, Bahutule will fill in the role left vacant by Sunil Joshi’s departure.

Joshi, who played 15 Tests and 69 ODIs for India and also served as a member of the senior men’s selection committee and briefly as the panel chairman, has left PBKS to become the spin bowling coach at the CoE in Bengaluru.

Apart from Bahutule, other members of the PBKS support staff include head coach Ricky Ponting, assistant coach Brad Haddin, fast bowling coach James Hopes, and Trevor Gonsalves.

Previously on Thursday, Lucknow Super Giants announced veteran New Zealand cricketer Kane Williamson as their new strategic advisor, while retaining head coach Justin Langer and roping in Carl Crowe as their spin bowling coach ahead of IPL 2026 season.

–IANS

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