Report: PBKS to part ways with head coach Anil Kumble; franchise approach Eoin Morgan, Trevor Bayliss for the top job

Report: PBKS to part ways with head coach Anil Kumble; franchise approach Eoin Morgan, Trevor Bayliss for the top job

Eoin Morgan and Trevor Bayliss

Former veteran spinner Anil Kumble was appointed as Punjab Kings’ head coach before IPL 2020. But according to reports, the franchise won’t renew his contract. Instead, they will approach former England captain Eoin Morgan and Trevor Bayliss.

As per Crickbuzz, Kumble’s contract with PBKS is still September. Morgan has just retired from international cricket, so his name comes as a big surprise because he also has no coaching experience.

Morgan right now plays in domestic cricket and has taken up commentary as a job right after taking retirement from cricket. He was seen covering India’s tour of England on Sky Sports. He is England’s most successful captain as under him, England won the ICC ODI World Cup for the first time.

And Bayliss was the coach when England had won the cup and he has provided his services to Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He is a veteran when it comes to coaching. He also guided KKR to two titles when the team was captained by Gautam Gambhir. His latest stint came with SRH has their head coach for two seasons.

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Under Anil Kumble, PBKS didn’t go past league stage

Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble

Under Kumble, PBKS failed to go past the league stage in any of the three seasons. He took over from Mike Hesson after the 2019 season but still the franchise couldn’t improve much. The franchise haven’t played a playoffs since 2014. They have cleared the league stage only twice, in 2008 and 2014. In 2014, they played the finals against KKR. Prior to his role as PBKS head coach, Kumble was among the coaching staff of the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Notably, PBKS also approached another former India coach for the role but no name has been disclosed in the report.

In the hunt for head coaches, KKR also purchased Ranji Trophy 2022 winner Madhya Pradesh team’s coach Chandrakant Pandit by replacing New Zealand veteran Brendon McCullum.

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