Wasim Jaffer. (Picture Credit: BCCI)
Former Indian batter Jaffer, who is the all-time leading run scorer in Ranji Trophy history, has previously served as the Punjab Kings’ batting coach in the IPL.
Former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer is all set to become the new head coach of IPL franchise Punjab Kings. The 46-year-old Jaffer, who scored 1,944 runs in 31 Tests for India during his eight-year-long career, will replace Trevor Bayliss, who served as PBKS head coach in IPL 2023 and 2024.
According to a report in the Indian Express on Friday, Jaffer will return to the Mohali-based franchise, which is co-owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta. The all-time leading run scorer in Ranji Trophy history is not new to PBKS management. He has served as the team’s batting coach (2019–21) and batting consultant (2023) in the past.
Former England head coach Bayliss, who has also won two IPL titles as KKR’s head coach in 2012 and 2014, joined PBKS as head coach ahead of the IPL 2023 on a two-year deal. But during his time, he failed to produce the desired results for the franchise, and the team finished 8th (2023) and 9th (2024) in the points table.
The news of a new head coach for PBKS ahead of IPL 2025 was doing the rounds for some time after it was reported earlier that PBKS is not in the mood to offer Bayliss an extension and is looking to hire an Indian as head coach.
If finalised for the top job, Jaffer will have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. PBKS has never managed to win an IPL title despite playing in all 17 seasons of the cash-rich league so far. In fact, in the last 10 years, it has not even managed to qualify for the playoffs.
In the 2024 edition of the IPL, PBKS started the season under Shikhar Dhawan’s leadership, but after his injury, English all-rounder Sam Curran was handed the captaincy. It will be interesting to see if PBKS retains Dhawan or Curran ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction or not.
There are high chances that star Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh, who finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup 2024, could be retained by the franchise.
