James Hopes and Brad Haddin Step Down From Punjab Kings Coaching Roles

Official Resignations: Former Australian cricketers James Hopes (fast-bowling coach) and Brad Haddin (fielding/co-coach) have formally resigned from their roles on the Punjab Kings support staff. Shift to Domestic Australian Roles: Both coaches stepped down after accepting major head coaching appointments back home in Australia: James Hopes has taken charge as the head coach of Queensland and the Big Bash League's (BBL) Brisbane Heat.

Brad Haddin has stepped into the head coaching role for New South Wales. Three Coaching Vacancies for Ponting: Their departures leave head coach Ricky Ponting with three key backroom vacancies to fill ahead of the upcoming mid-December mini-auction. Spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule also recently departed the franchise to join Gautam Gambhir's coaching setup with the India men's national team.

Background with PBKS: Hopes was brought into the franchise by Ponting following their previous stint together at Delhi Capitals, while Haddin was retained after originally serving under former head coach Trevor Bayliss. Team Context: The coaching reshuffle follows a disappointing end to the IPL 2026 campaign, where the Shreyas Iyer-led side won their opening six matches before suffering a second-half collapse and missing out on the playoffs.

PBKS have never won the IPL title despite coming close in 2014, when they lost the final to Kolkata Knight Riders, and in 2025, when they lost the title clash to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Ponting took charge as the head coach prior to IPL 2025 and the team found success straightaway, and he oversaw an outstanding start to the IPL 2026 season too as PBKS won six straight matches (to go with one washout). They lost their way after that, winning just one more and losing six to miss out on making the playoffs.