Sairaj Bahutule Takes Charge as Spin-Bowling Coach for India Men's Cricket Team

Sairaj Bahutule has been appointed as the spin-bowling coach for the India men's cricket team, expressing his excitement and honor in this new role. With a rich coaching background and experience as a player, Bahutule aims to contribute to the team's success. The upcoming Test against Afghanistan marks India's first red-ball match of the year, and the team is looking to improve its standing in the World Test Championship. Shubman Gill will lead the side in both formats, with a strong squad prepared for the series. Read on for more details about Bahutule's career and the team's upcoming schedule.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 2, 2026, 19:11 IST

Bahutule's Excitement for New Role

Sairaj Bahutule, the newly appointed spin-bowling coach for the India men's cricket team, expressed his excitement about rejoining the national setup, describing the opportunity as 'deeply special.' His comments followed his recent appointment ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh.

A Proud Moment for Bahutule

Bahutule conveyed his honor in accepting this position and is eager to contribute to the team's achievements. He stated, 'Being appointed as the Spin Bowling Coach of the Indian Men's Cricket Team is a tremendous honor. Representing India as a player was a source of immense pride, and now I look forward to supporting the team in their quest for excellence across all formats.'

Coaching and Playing Background

At 53 years old, Bahutule will manage India's spin department across various formats. He joins the national team after serving as the spin-bowling coach for Punjab Kings in the IPL 2026. His coaching journey includes experience with domestic teams like Kerala and Bengal, and he spent time with Rajasthan Royals from 2018 to 2021. He also contributed at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), working with India A teams and supporting senior men's teams under former head coach Rahul Dravid. After returning to Rajasthan for IPL 2025, he has now taken on this new role.

As a player, 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 successful domestic career, taking 630 wickets in 188 first-class matches and 197 wickets in 143 List A games.

Coaching Team and Upcoming Matches

In his new position, 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.

Currently, India ranks sixth in the World Test Championship cycle, with 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 to 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, taking place shortly after the IPL 2026 concludes. Following the Test, India will engage in a three-match ODI series from June 14 to June 20, starting with the Test on June 6.

Squads for the Afghanistan Series

Test Squad

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, Gurnoor Brar.

ODI Squad

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, Harsh Dubey.