Sairaj Bahutule appointed India men’s spin bowling coach

The BCCI has appointed Sairaj Bahutule as the spin bowling coach of India's senior men's side.

"Mr. Bahutule brings a wealth of experience as both a player and a coach, and he is a domestic hero as well as a former international player for India. In a press release issued on Tuesday (June 2), the board stated, "He has built a strong reputation for nurturing and developing spin-bowling talent across domestic and franchise cricket." Bahutule represented India in two Tests and eight ODIs.

He took 630 wickets in his distinguished first-class career, which spanned nearly two decades and 188 games. A prolific performer on the domestic circuit, he also scored 6176 runs in his first-class career, going down as one of the finest all-round contributors at that level.

Bahutule began coaching after playing cricket, a journey that has taken him through domestic, pathway, and international cricket. That includes tenures as the head coach of Vidarbha, Kerala, Gujarat and Bengal. In the Indian Premier League, he has also worked as a spin-bowling coach for Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals.

He was the bowling coach of India's Under-19 World Cup-winning team in 2022 and was also part of the coaching staff for the 2024 edition of the tournament. The 53-year-old has also served as a specialist bowling coach on numerous assignments for India A and the senior men's team.

From 2021 to 2024, he worked as a coach at the BCCI's National Cricket Academy, which is now the Centre of Excellence. According to Bahutule, "It is a tremendous honor to be appointed as the spin bowling coach of the Indian men's team."

"Representing India as a player was a source of tremendous pride, and the chance to once more make a contribution to Indian Cricket as a coach is incredibly unique. I look forward to working with the players and supporting the team's pursuit of excellence across formats."