On a promising note for the cricket fraternity, especially fans of the Indian Premier League’s Punjab Kings, there’s been a significant development as the franchise gears up for IPL 2024. In a strategic move, the team has reinstated Sanjay Bangar into its operational fold, this time as the Head of Cricket Development. This appointment, announced on Friday, December 8, marks an intriguing phase for the former head coach who had parted ways with Royal Challengers Bangalore earlier in the year, post his tenure as their head coach in July.
The return of Bangar to Punjab Kings carries with it a layer of nostalgia and a glimmer of optimism. He was at the helm as the head coach when the team witnessed its most successful tournament run to date — their journey to the final match in IPL 2014. Though the outcome was a narrow defeat in a riveting last-over face-off against Kolkata Knight Riders, it set the benchmark for the franchise’s aspirations in the competition.
In light of Bangar’s return, the Punjab Kings’ management expressed their elation with an affirmative statement, underscored by the confidence they hold in Bangar’s capabilities: “We are delighted to announce the return of our sher, Sanjay Bangar as the new Head of Cricket Development at Punjab Kings. Mr Bangar brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our organization, and we are confident that under his leadership, our cricket development programs will reach new heights.”
Sanjay Bangar, too, did not conceal his eagerness to reunite with his former franchise, emphasizing his commitment to fortify the team’s core through targeted support during the forthcoming season. “It’s my privilege to be with the Punjab Kings again. We have a good core group of players as evidenced by the fact that we have the lowest number of player releases this year. The challenge is to give the squad the best support possible during and after the season to make the team stronger and deliver success,” remarked an optimistic Bangar.
To refresh the squad, the Kings have released several players — Shahrukh Khan, Raj Bawa, Baltej Dhanda, Mohit Rathee, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Concurrently, they’ve retained a robust cadre of cricketers, ranging from veterans to emerging talents.
Keen on maintaining stability and building upon the team’s synergy, the roster of retained players is dazzling with cricketing prowess. The list is headlined by skipper Shikhar Dhawan and includes Jitesh Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, and Matthew Short. The team’s all-rounders and bowlers form a formidable unit with the likes of Harpreet Bhatia, Atharva Taide, Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Shivam Singh, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Gurnoor Brar, and Vidwath Kaverappa ensuring depth and versatility.
As the franchise forges ahead, no player trades have been reported, and the current purse stands at a hefty INR 29.01 crore, allowing ample room for strategic acquisitions.
Supporting Bangar in his development endeavors, the Punjab Kings boast an adept coaching staff, including Trevor Bayliss as the head coach, with other specialized mentors like Wasim Jaffer (batting coach), Brad Haddin (assistant coach), Charl Langeveldt (fast bowling coach), Sunil Joshi (spin bowling coach), and Trevor Gonsalves (fielding coach). This assembly of cricketing intellect signifies the franchise’s dedication to excellence on all fronts.
The cricketing circle eagerly anticipates how the landscape of the IPL will transform with such a geared-up framework for player development and a firm focus on the long-term nurturing of talent at the Punjab Kings. With the stage set for IPL 2024, all eyes will be on how the once finalist team, under the revitalized guidance of Sanjay Bangar, will craft its strategies to clinch the coveted trophy.