News Sports Cricket IPL 2018: Kings XI Punjab name Brad Hodge as head coach

IPL 2018: Kings XI Punjab name Brad Hodge as head coach

The head coach's job was informally held by Sehwag after Team India batting coach Sanjay Bangar resigned in December 2016.

IPL Image Source : GETTY IMAGESA file image of Brad Hodge.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday signed former Australia batsman Brad Hodge as head coach on a three-year contract.

According to a report by espncricinfo, Hodge, who held a similar role with Gujarat Lions for the last two seasons, will report to Virender Sehwag, the franchise's mentor-cum director of cricket.

The head coach's job was informally held by Sehwag after Team India batting coach Sanjay Bangar resigned in December 2016. 

The 42-year-old Hodge continues to feature as an active player and will be playing for Melbourne Renegades in the 2017-18 Big Bash League (BBL) before joining the Punjab franchise as the head coach.

"We have signed a three-year agreement with Brad, who will be our head coach," Kings XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia was quoted as saying. 

"Viru (Sehwag) will be actively involved, too, as our director of cricket."

THe Kings XI Punjab had a mixed 2017 season, where they were in the reckoning for the play-offs until they lost to Rising Pune Supergiant, the runners-up, in their final league match.