Former Punjab Kings (PBKS) spin-bowling coach Sunil Joshi has left his role at the franchise. Joshi exits his previous coaching role at PBKS during a period where rumours suggest he could take up a higher position at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Joshi’s PBKS resignation came right after he secured a position at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE). Joshi’s sudden resignation from PBKS excites analysts as the prospect of his return to international cricket could guarantee significant benefits for Team India.
When Did Sunil Joshi Resign?
Reports suggest that Sunil Joshi resigned from his role at PBKS within mid-September and early October 2025. The coach and franchise did not release any official statement confirming Joshi’s exit; however, reliable internal sources verified the development.
Why Did Joshi Vacate His PBKS Coaching Role?
Journalists reporting on Joshi’s PBKS exit claim the bowling coach is set to take up a full-time role at the BCCI CoE later this year.
What is Joshi’s Likely Role at BCCI CoE?
Joshi’s profile fits a specialist spin-bowling coach at the BCCI CoE more than other potential roles. He may be responsible for technical coaching, training cycle setup, rehab support, and skill development for young spinners.
Joshi’s Coaching CV at a Glance
Sunil has a respectable coaching portfolio with roles held at domestic and national team level since his pivot to management. He has been a major part of coaching staff for domestic teams in Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, and Assam.
Joshi also held coaching roles in Bangladesh and Oman as a spin-bowling consultant. The skilled coach was also chief selector of the Indian men’s team in 2020. He has been at PBKS in separate stints, holding vital coaching roles at the franchise since the late 2010s.
Brief Details on Joshi’s Playing Career
Joshi had a decent outing as a Team India international before his retirement. He represented the Men in Blue in 69 ODIs and 15 Test matches. Sunil appeared in 80+ games for India across a 5-year period (1996 – 2001) before eventually leaving the national team across formats.
He put together remarkable performances overall as a player and remains one of the toughest first-class players to manage a long domestic career. Joshi’s lethal leftie orthodox style unsettled batters, and his consistent performances kept opposition teams on edge throughout innings.
A combination of impressive economy rates and an ability to mount pressure on batting teams made Joshi a darling to cricket fans worldwide. His dogged spin approach coupled with remarkable individual game-reading abilities earned him consistent national team callups for over a half-decade.
Is Joshi Leaving PBKS Due to a Private Rift?
Reports confirming Joshi’s PBKS exit do not mention any internal crisis within the franchise. Some reports claim PBKS coach Ricky Ponting received news of Joshi’s exit personally and okayed his exit. An inside source confirmed this during an interview following Joshi’s resignation:
“He has written to us about his unavailability for the coming season. He is a good guy and the franchise has a good equation with him. But we don’t want to come in the way of someone’s career growth,” the inside source said.
How Did Joshi’s Time at PBKS Benefit the Franchise?
Joshi performed as a reliable spin coach for PBKS and now leaves big shoes unfilled at the franchise. The franchise struggled to make an impression for several seasons until the appointment of coaches like Ponting and Joshi. Effects of Ponting’s leadership and contributions from Joshi is clearly behind the PBKS’ remarkable IPL 2025 finish.
The momentum of PBKS spinners throughout IPL 2025 was evident and could be behind rumours of a national team duty for Joshi.
What Does a Role at the BCCI CoE Offer Coaches?
Working as a coach at the BCCI CoE, Bengaluru provides coaches with world-class equipment and exposure to high-quality talent from all across India. Coaches at BCCI CoE gain access to the best youth prospects at the facility and also get to train India’s A squad.
Securing employment at this facility also gives coaches a rare privilege to influence team selections at senior level while defining paths to development for younger players. Such attractions make a job at the CoE appeal to coaches across IPL franchises.
Are Coaching Moves to the BCCI CoE Common?
Moving between franchises and national training centres is a common practice in India’s cricket ecosystem. Several established IPL coaches usually leave their franchise contracts to take up BCCI appointments. Working at the BCCI offers long-term influence over national team squad selection and comes with job stability benefits.
