James Hopes and Brad Haddin Leave Punjab Kings Ahead of IPL 2027
Punjab Kings will rebuild a major part of their coaching staff before IPL 2027 after fast bowling coach James Hopes and fielding coach Brad Haddin left the franchise. Head coach Ricky Ponting will have the final say on their replacements, with PBKS now needing new coaches in three specialist departments.
Hopes and Haddin informed Punjab Kings of their decisions recently, according to the latest reporting. Their exits follow the earlier departure of spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, meaning Ponting must now reshape the bowling and fielding support around him before the new IPL season.
No replacements have been confirmed yet.
James Hopes and Brad Haddin Leave PBKS Coaching Staff
The latest changes affect two important areas of Punjab Kings’ backroom team.
James Hopes worked as the fast bowling coach under Ricky Ponting, while Brad Haddin combined assistant coaching responsibilities with a major role in the franchise’s fielding setup.
Both coaches have now moved on as their responsibilities in Australian domestic cricket increase.
| PBKS coaching role | IPL 2027 status |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Ricky Ponting continues |
| Fast bowling coach | Vacant after James Hopes exit |
| Fielding coach | Vacant after Brad Haddin exit |
| Spin bowling coach | Vacant after Sairaj Bahutule exit |
| Assistant bowling coach | Trevor Gonsalves remains listed |
| Replacement decisions | Ricky Ponting to make final call |
The current Punjab Kings website still lists Hopes and Haddin among the support staff at the time of writing, so the franchise’s online staff section has not yet caught up with the latest changes.
The full Punjab Kings IPL 2027 team page will track the updated coaching staff alongside player and squad changes.
Why James Hopes Has Left Punjab Kings
Hopes’ departure is understandable because his role in Australian cricket has expanded significantly.
He has taken charge of both the Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat men’s programs after accepting a three year head coaching position with Queensland Cricket.
That is a substantial full time responsibility covering Australia’s domestic first class, one day and Big Bash structures.
Hopes had initially been appointed Sydney Sixers head coach earlier in 2026 before leaving that position to return to Queensland. His move back home gives him control of the Bulls and Heat programs and makes continuing as a specialist IPL coach increasingly difficult.
His PBKS exit also breaks up a coaching partnership with Ponting that extended beyond Punjab.
Hopes had previously worked alongside Ponting at Delhi Capitals before following him to Punjab Kings.
Queensland Cricket confirmed James Hopes’ head coaching appointment in June.
Brad Haddin Also Moves On From Punjab Kings
Haddin’s situation is slightly different.
The former Australia wicketkeeper was already part of the Punjab Kings setup before Ponting arrived. He had worked under Trevor Bayliss and remained with the franchise when PBKS changed head coaches.
Haddin has since taken over as head coach of the New South Wales men’s team.
His departure therefore removes another experienced Australian coach from the Punjab setup and creates a vacancy in an area that can be underestimated when franchises plan for an IPL season.
Fielding coaches are involved in far more than catching practice. They work on boundary positioning, throwing accuracy, movement, match specific fielding plans and the individual development of players who may be asked to field in unfamiliar positions.
Ponting will now have to decide what type of coach best fits that role for IPL 2027.
PBKS Actually Have Three Coaching Vacancies
The bigger story is that Punjab Kings are not searching for only two replacements.
Sairaj Bahutule had already left his position as PBKS spin bowling coach after IPL 2026.
The BCCI appointed Sairaj Bahutule as India’s senior men’s spin bowling coach in June 2026.
That leaves Punjab looking for specialists across three areas:
- Fast bowling
- Spin bowling
- Fielding
This gives Ponting an opportunity to reshape almost the entire specialist coaching structure around him rather than simply filling one unexpected vacancy.
Ricky Ponting Will Choose the New PBKS Coaches
Punjab Kings management can recommend potential candidates, but the final decision is expected to rest with Ricky Ponting.
That is important because it keeps the coaching structure aligned with the head coach’s methods.
Ponting has considerable influence over PBKS cricket decisions and will be able to select coaches who suit the way he wants the squad prepared.
The timing also gives Punjab some breathing room.
The new appointments are expected to be finalised before the IPL 2027 auction, which is scheduled for December.
Getting the staff in place before the auction would allow the new coaches to contribute to squad assessment and identify areas where Punjab need additional personnel.
Why the Coaching Changes Matter for the PBKS Squad
Punjab Kings already have an interesting mix of Indian and overseas bowlers.
Arshdeep Singh remains central to the pace attack, while Lockie Ferguson, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Yash Thakur and Vijaykumar Vyshak provide different fast bowling options.
The franchise also has all rounders who contribute with the ball, including Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mitchell Owen and Musheer Khan.
That variety means the next fast bowling coach cannot use one approach for every bowler.
Workload management, death bowling, powerplay plans, pace variations and role clarity will all matter.
Spin coaching is equally important with Yuzvendra Chahal and other spin options in the group.
The updated IPL 2027 squads will show how much of that bowling unit Punjab retain before finalising its auction targets.
Coaching Decisions Come Before a Busy PBKS Offseason
Punjab’s coaching rebuild is happening at the same time as important player decisions.
The IPL 2027 retention deadline is November 15, while the player trading window is already active.
PBKS have been linked with possible trade activity, and several members of their squad could attract interest before the retention lists are finalised.
The franchise therefore has two connected jobs.
Ponting must help determine which players remain part of the 2027 plan while also selecting the coaches responsible for developing that squad.
Any confirmed player movement can be followed on the IPL 2027 trades page.
What Happens Next for Punjab Kings?
Punjab Kings are now expected to begin discussions with candidates for all three vacant coaching positions.
There is no confirmed shortlist yet.
The franchise may suggest names, but Ponting is expected to interview or speak with potential candidates before making the final selections.
For IPL 2027, the most accurate position is clear: Ricky Ponting remains Punjab Kings head coach, but James Hopes, Brad Haddin and Sairaj Bahutule have all left specialist roles. PBKS therefore need new fast bowling, fielding and spin bowling coaches before the season.
That makes the next Punjab Kings coaching announcements worth watching closely, especially with retention decisions and the mini auction approaching.
Follow IPL2027In for the latest Punjab Kings coaching changes, IPL 2027 retentions, trades, squad updates and auction news.
Correct the unsupported staff claimsRemove repeated coaching-change points
