Former Team India batting coach Sanjay Bangar is set to rejoin his former Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the 2024 edition, taking on the role of Head of Cricket Development. Bangar previously served as the assistant coach for the team in IPL 2014 and later took on the role of head coach for a couple of seasons.
After his coaching stint with the Punjab Kings, Bangar took on the role of India’s batting consultant. In that period, the Indian cricket team reached the final of the 2019 ODI World Cup held in England. Bangar served as the batting coach for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) from 2021 to 2023.
However, RCB decided not to renew his contract for IPL 2024, leading Punjab Kings to secure his services. Sanjay Bangar commented on his new role, stating in a media release:
“It’s my privilege to be with the Punjab Kings again. We have a good core of players as evidenced by the fact that we have the lowest number of player releases this year. The challenge is to give the squad the best support possible during and after the season to make the team stronger and deliver success.”
Bangar’s new role involves working closely with coach Trevor Bayliss, and their initial focus will be enhancing the squad during the IPL 2024 auction on December 19 in Dubai.
Previously named Kings XI Punjab, the franchise achieved its best result in 2014 by reaching the final but fell short of securing the title.
Punjab Kings retained most players, releasing just five ahead of the IPL 2024 auction
Punjab Kings have let go of five players—Shahrukh Khan, Raj Bawa, Baltej Dhanda, Mohit Rathee, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa—before the auction, holding a purse of ₹29.1 crore.
Despite making significant acquisitions in recent years, Punjab Kings have struggled to secure a playoff spot, consistently finishing in the lower half of the IPL table. In the latest edition, they ended up at the eighth position with only six wins in 14 matches.
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