Wasim Jaffer was appointed head coach of Punjab Kings, marking his third stint with the franchise, aiming to end their decade-long playoff drought.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer is set to take over as the head coach of Punjab Kings, replacing Trevor Bayliss whose two-year contract has ended.
This will be Jaffer’s third stint with the Mohali-based franchise. He previously served as the batting coach from 2019 to 2021 before stepping down ahead of the IPL 2022 auction. More recently, he held the role of batting consultant for the team until his release before the IPL 2024.
The 45-year-old Jaffer faces a daunting task. Punjab Kings, one of the league’s founding members, have endured a decade-long playoff drought, with their sole IPL final appearance coming in 2014.
The team’s performance in the recently concluded IPL 2024 was inconsistent, despite recording some high-profile victories. They finished ninth on the points table with just five wins. A notable highlight was their record-breaking chase of 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders, but they could not sustain the momentum.
The injury to captain Shikhar Dhawan also impacted the team’s campaign. The franchise’s home record was another area of concern, with only one win from seven matches played at their new stadium in Mullanpur and Dharamsala.
Though an official update from the Pu jab Kings is yet to be announced of Jaffer’s appointment as head coach, as Jaffer returns, the team will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes in the upcoming IPL season 2025.
Last Updated on July 26, 2024