Trevor Bayliss Likely to Depart Punjab Kings

Following Ricky Ponting's departure, another Australian coach, Trevor Bayliss, may be leaving the Indian Premier League's (IPL) elite coaching ranks. Bayliss, who served as the head coach of the Punjab Kings, has completed his two-year contract, and the franchise is reportedly not planning to renew it.

Sources indicate that Punjab Kings are exploring the possibility of hiring an Indian coach. Among the potential candidates is Sanjay Bangar, a former head coach of the franchise and currently the director of cricket development. Although the decision was expected to be discussed in a board meeting on July 22, the meeting did not occur. The franchise is said to be expanding its search as they prepare for the upcoming mega-auction.

The success of Indian coaches such as Rahul Dravid with the national team, the Gautam Gambhir-Chandrakant Pandit duo with Kolkata Knight Riders, and Ashish Nehra with Gujarat Titans has increased the demand for Indian coaches across IPL franchises. Sourav Ganguly remains a key figure in the Delhi Capitals' coaching staff, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru has included Dinesh Karthik in their coaching lineup for the upcoming season.

Trevor Bayliss, aged 61, has previously coached three IPL franchises—Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings—and led England to significant success. However, his recent T20 coaching record has been lacklustre, with Punjab Kings finishing eighth and ninth in the last two seasons under his guidance, despite having a strong squad. The team's management has stated that a final decision on Bayliss's future will be made after reviewing last season's performance, emphasising that results are crucial.

While franchise insiders have no issues with Bayliss's coaching methods, the team's performance did not meet expectations. Bayliss, who took over from Anil Kumble before the 2023 season, has not commented on the situation.

In other IPL developments, Rahul Dravid is being courted by multiple franchises, with a significant focus on Mumbai Indians regarding Mark Boucher's position. Additionally, the Ashish Nehra-Vikram Solanki partnership at Gujarat Titans is under scrutiny, and there is anticipation about who will join Kolkata Knight Riders' coaching staff following significant departures to the Indian team.