Team India Set to Expand Coaching Staff with Sairaj Bahutule as Spin Bowling Coach
Upcoming Changes in Team India's Coaching Setup
The management of Team India, under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir, is poised to enhance its coaching team ahead of the national squad's next international engagements following the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
International Schedule Post-IPL 2026
After the IPL final on May 31, Team India will embark on a busy schedule, which includes:
1. Five Test matches against Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.
2. Fifteen One Day Internationals (ODIs) across series against New Zealand, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.
3. Twenty-six T20 Internationals (T20Is) against Ireland, England, Afghanistan, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and at the Asian Games 2026.
Given this packed calendar, the management aims to expand its coaching staff to ensure effective workload management and specialized coaching for critical areas.
Sairaj Bahutule's Potential Appointment
As preparations ramp up for upcoming international matches following the T20 World Cup 2026 triumph, former Indian spinner Sairaj Bahutule is reportedly in line to join the national team as a spin bowling coach.
Sources indicate that Gautam Gambhir has engaged in two productive discussions with Bahutule regarding his potential role as a specialist spin-bowling coach. Currently, Bahutule serves as the spin bowling coach for the Punjab Kings.
After these discussions, Gambhir has reportedly endorsed Bahutule's appointment, aiming to bolster the spin department, especially in light of Team India's recent challenges against slow bowling in home conditions.
Who is Sairaj Bahutule?
Sairaj Bahutule is a prominent figure in Indian domestic cricket, having played for teams such as Mumbai, Andhra, Assam, Vidarbha, and Maharashtra over a 22-year career. He accumulated 6,176 runs, including 9 centuries and 36 fifties, with an average of 31.83, alongside 630 wickets in 188 first-class matches.
Notably, he was part of the St. Xavier's team during the historic 664-run partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli in the 1988 Harris Shield semifinal.
Bahutule has represented Team India in 8 ODIs and 2 Tests, where he scored 23 runs and took 2 wickets in ODIs, and 39 runs with 3 wickets in Tests. His international career was overshadowed by the presence of legendary spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
Post-retirement, he has held coaching roles with various state teams and served as a specialist bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He has also acted as interim bowling coach for Team India on multiple occasions.