Sairaj Bahutule has been added to India’s back-room staff as spin-bowling coach for next week’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh (6-10 June). The former leg-spinner, now 53, is expected to stay on for the white-ball phase of the season.
Those who follow the IPL will have seen Bahutule in a similar role with Punjab Kings earlier this year. Before that he worked with Kerala and Bengal in domestic cricket, spent four seasons on Rajasthan Royals’ bench, and put in time at the National Cricket Academy. He also accompanied India A and, under Rahul Dravid, the senior side on a handful of tours.
Although his international playing career never really took off – two Tests and eight ODIs between 1997 and 2003 – his domestic numbers remain eye-catching: 630 first-class wickets and 197 in List A, spread over two decades of hard graft.
“His knowledge of Indian pitches and the mental side of spin bowling should serve the group well,” a BCCI official noted in the short statement confirming the appointment. Gautam Gambhir, now permanent head coach, will work alongside batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, fast-bowling coach Morne Morkel, fielding coach T Dilip and assistant Ryan ten Doeschate. The spin slot had been vacant since November.
India sit sixth on the current World Test Championship table – four wins, four defeats and a draw – and the recent home record has been patchy. New Zealand claimed a 3-0 sweep in late 2024 and South Africa followed up with a 2-0 success last November. Gambhir admitted last week that “little tweaks rather than wholesale changes” are required, but acknowledged that consistency, especially with the ball, has to improve.
The short turnaround from IPL to Test cricket is hardly ideal, yet selectors have retained a settled core of senior spinners. Whether Bahutule can coax something extra from them – quicker adjustments to surface, a tad more variation, sharper over-rates – will be watched closely as India attempt to restart their WTC campaign against an Afghanistan side still looking for their first victory on these shores.
