Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin will join Punjab Kings as an assistant coach for the 2023 Indian Premier League. The 44-year-old will work under World Cup-winning coach Trevor Bayliss. Both Haddin and Bayliss share a good working relationship and were together even at Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Haddin has been one of the top wicket-keepers of his time and has played for Australia in 66 Tests, 126 ODIs and 34 T20s. "Haddin has been appointed as an assistant coach. The rest of the support staff will be appointed soon," an IPL source told PTI on Thursday.
Bayliss replaced former India captain Anil Kumble as the organisation didn’t renew his contract after failing to make the playoffs in his three-year term. Bayliss has been one of the top coaches in the international circuit as he has won the 2019 World Cup with England, two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014 with Kolkata Knight Riders and a BBL title with the Sydney Sixers.
Punjab's only final appearance in IPL history came in 2014 when they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders, where Bayliss was the KKR coach. Commenting on his new role, Trevor Bayliss expressed excitement about working with the Punjab-based team and talked about how he is ready to push for the title with his new team. He said, “ I’m honoured to be given the Head Coach’s role with the Punjab Kings. A foundation franchise with an appetite for success. I look forward to working with a talented squad of players determined to compete for silverware.”
Punjab Kings have finished sixth over the last four seasons of the IPL. The team saw some major changes in this year's tournament as Mayank Agarwal was given captaincy from KL Rahul but he could not replicate the success with the bat. For this IPL season, Mayank and Arshdeep Singh were the only two retained players.