Sairaj Bahutule Appointed India's Spin Bowling Coach Ahead of Afghanistan Test

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the appointment of former India leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule as the spin bowling coach for the senior men's national cricket team. This significant development, widely reported across various credible media outlets on June 2, 2026, marks a pivotal addition to India's coaching setup under head coach Gautam Gambhir. Bahutule's appointment comes at a critical juncture, just days before India's one-off Test series against Afghanistan, scheduled to commence on June 6, 2026, in New Chandigarh. His role will be to oversee India's spin department across all formats of the game, a responsibility that gains added importance following the recent retirement of stalwart Ravichandran Ashwin and the need to nurture young spin talent. BCCI sources confirmed that Gambhir and senior officials proactively approached Bahutule, identifying the clear need for a dedicated, experienced specialist to guide India's spinners. The 53-year-old Bahutule brings a wealth of coaching experience to the national team. Prior to this national assignment, he served as the spin-bowling coach for Punjab Kings in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season and is expected to part ways with the franchise to commit to his national role for the next two years. His extensive coaching career also includes stints with other IPL franchises like Rajasthan Royals (from 2018 to 2021 and again in 2025). Beyond franchise cricket, Bahutule has a strong background in domestic cricket, having coached state teams such as Kerala, Bengal, Vidarbha, and Gujarat. He has also been deeply involved in India's player development pathway through his association with the BCCI's National Cricket Academy (NCA). Between 2021 and 2024, he was a key member of the coaching setup at the NCA, working with India A teams and contributing to several senior men's team assignments during Rahul Dravid's tenure as head coach. Notably, he served as the bowling coach for India's victorious ICC Under-19 World Cup team in 2022 and was part of the support staff during the 2024 edition of the tournament, showcasing his expertise in developing young talent. As a player, Sairaj Bahutule was a prominent leg-spinner who represented India in two Test matches and eight One-Day Internationals between 1997 and 2003. His international career might have been brief, but he enjoyed a highly successful domestic career spanning nearly two decades, where he was a prolific wicket-taker for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, amassing over 600 first-class wickets at an average of 26.00 and scoring 6,176 runs at an average of 31.83. His vast experience playing in and understanding Indian conditions is expected to be a valuable asset in mentoring the country's next generation of spin bowlers. Bahutule will integrate into a well-rounded support staff under Head Coach Gautam Gambhir. The current coaching unit includes batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, fast-bowling coach Morne Morkel, fielding coach T Dilip, and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. This appointment is seen as a strategic move to sharpen India's spin attack, especially as the team prepares for future international challenges and looks to regain its dominance in home Test matches, having faced difficulties in recent years. His first assignment with the senior team will involve working with spinners like Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and newcomers Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey for the Afghanistan Test.

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