IPL 2024: Sanjay Bangar Returns To Punjab Kings As Head Of Cricket Development

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Mohali, December 8: Former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Sanjay Bangar has returned to Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL 2024 auction in the head of cricket development role.

Bangar, who has had stints with Punjab Kings from 2014 to 2016, returns to the franchise, to work with current head coach Trevor Bayliss and team. He is expected to be part of the PBKS auction plans.

Bangar's contract as the head coach of the Royal Challengers Bangalore expired following the 2023 season and the Bangalore-based side decided to not renew his contract. Punjab Kings took to social media on Friday (December 8) to announce the return of their former coach in a new role.

"We are delighted to announce the return of our sher, Sanjay Bangar as the new Head of Cricket Development at Punjab Kings," Punjab Kings shared on X, formerly Twitter.

"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," PBKS added.

"It's my privilege to be with the Punjab Kings again. We have a good core of players as evidenced by the fact that we have the lowest number of player releases this year," Bangar said in a media release.

"The challenge is to give the squad the best support possible during and after the season to make the team stronger and deliver success."

The 51-year-old, who has also served as batting coach for Team India, had been the assistant coach for PBKS in 2014 before he was promoted as the head coach in seasons 2015 and 2016.

After a conflict interest rule pushed him out of the PBKS job, Bangar continued in the Team India batting coach job until the 2019 ODI World Cup. He was later appointed the batting consultant of RCB ahead of IPL 2021 before being named their head coach for the next two years.

In his two seasons as head coach of PBKS, Bangar had overseen the team finish last, but his stint at RCB was slightly better as he oversaw an Eliminator exit in 2022 and a fifth-place finish in 2023.

In his new role, Bangar will be involved straight away as the IPL 2024 auction, which is scheduled to take place in Dubai on December 19, 2023, is just under two weeks away. PBKS, who have retained most of their squad and hold a remaining purse of 12.20 crore, will not have much to do at the auction.