James Hopes and Brad Haddin have resigned from their positions as fast-bowling and fielding coaches for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), as reported by Cricinfo.
Their exits were anticipated, with Hopes recently taking on the role of head coach for Queensland and the Brisbane Heat, while Haddin has accepted the head coach position for New South Wales.
Challenges Faced in IPL 2026
The Punjab Kings faced a disappointing conclusion to their IPL 2026 season. Under the leadership of captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, the team initially excelled, winning their first six matches and maintaining the top position in the points table for almost a month.
However, their performance declined in the latter half of the season, leading to their elimination from playoff contention.
After finishing as runners-up in 2025, PBKS started strong with six victories, a no-result, and an impressive unbeaten streak of seven matches, accumulating 13 points.
Unfortunately, poor tactical decisions and dropped catches contributed to a series of six consecutive losses, although they managed to secure a win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Ultimately, with only 15 points, PBKS fell short of the playoffs, finishing fifth, just one point behind Rajasthan Royals (RR), who claimed the final playoff spot with 16 points.