Sairaj Bahutule Appointed Spin-Bowling Coach for Indian Men's Team Ahead of Afghanistan Test

Sairaj Bahutule has been appointed as the spin-bowling coach for the Indian men's cricket team ahead of their one-off Test against Afghanistan. With a rich coaching background, including stints with Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals, Bahutule brings extensive experience to the role. He will work alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir and other key staff as India prepares for a challenging Test series. The team has faced recent struggles in the World Test Championship, making this upcoming match crucial. Following the Test, India will also engage in a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Discover more about Bahutule's playing career and the squad details.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 2, 2026, 17:33 IST

Sairaj Bahutule Takes on New Role

Former Indian leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule has been appointed as the spin-bowling coach for the men's national cricket team. This announcement comes just before the one-off Test match against Afghanistan, which is set to take place in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. At 53 years old, Bahutule will be responsible for managing the spin department across all formats of the game.

Bahutule's Coaching Background

Bahutule joins the Indian team following his recent role with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2026, where he was the spin-bowling coach. His coaching career has been extensive, having worked with domestic teams such as Kerala and Bengal. He also had a tenure with Rajasthan Royals (RR) from 2018 to 2021. Additionally, he contributed to the National Cricket Academy (NCA), assisting India A teams and supporting senior men's teams under the guidance of former head coach Rahul Dravid. After returning to Rajasthan for IPL 2025, he has now taken on this new position with Punjab Kings.

Overview of Bahutule's Playing Career

During his playing days, Bahutule represented India from 1997 to 2003, participating in two Test matches and eight One-Day Internationals. Although his international appearances were limited, he had a remarkable domestic career that lasted nearly twenty years, claiming 630 wickets in 188 first-class matches and 197 wickets in 143 List A games.

India's Coaching Staff

In his new capacity, Bahutule will collaborate with head coach Gautam Gambhir, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, fast-bowling coach Morne Morkel, fielding coach T Dilip, and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.

India's Recent Test Performance

Currently, India ranks sixth in the World Test Championship cycle, with a record of four wins, four losses, and one draw from nine matches. The team has faced challenges at home, losing two of their last three Test series, including a 3-0 defeat against New Zealand in 2024 and a 2-0 loss to South Africa in 2025. The upcoming Test against Afghanistan will be India's first red-ball match of the year, occurring shortly after the IPL 2026 concludes.

Upcoming Matches Against Afghanistan

Following the one-off Test, India will compete against Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series from June 14 to June 20. Shubman Gill will captain the team in both formats, with KL Rahul serving as vice-captain for the Test format, taking over from Rishabh Pant. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed vice-captain for the ODI series.

Squads for the Afghanistan Series

India's Test squad includes: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Rishabh Pant (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey, and Gurnoor Brar.

India's ODI squad features: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, and Harsh Dubey.