The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named former India all-rounder Sairaj Bahutule as the new spin bowling coach for the senior men’s national team. Bahutule, who has played in two Tests and eight One-Day Internationals for India, brings a wealth of coaching experience from domestic and international cricket to his new role. With a distinguished first-class career spanning nearly two decades, he is set to mentor India’s upcoming spinners in all formats.
Expressing his delight at the appointment, Bahutule stated, “It is a tremendous honor to be appointed as the Spin Bowling Coach of the Indian Men’s Cricket Team. Representing India as a player was a matter of immense pride, and the opportunity to contribute to Indian Cricket once again in a coaching capacity is deeply special.” He looks forward to working closely with the players to enhance the team’s performance across different formats.
Following his playing career, Bahutule transitioned into coaching and gained recognition for his coaching stints with various domestic teams like Vidarbha, Kerala, Gujarat, and Bengal. He also served as a spin-bowling coach for IPL franchises such as Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. His coaching prowess was evident during India’s victorious ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign in 2022, where he played a crucial role as a bowling coach.
Bahutule’s coaching journey further extended to working with India A and the senior men’s team as a specialist bowling coach on multiple occasions. His contributions were instrumental during his tenure from 2021 to 2024 at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy, now known as the Centre of Excellence, where he played a key role in nurturing emerging talent.
