Head coach Gautam Gambhir’s backroom staff has received a critical addition with the Board of Control for Cricket in India appointing domestic stalwart Sairaj Bahutule as the spin-bowling coach of the senior men’s national team. The development comes at a turbulent juncture for India’s Test fortunes, with the team facing intense pressure following consecutive, unprecedented home whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa in the last two years.
The twin-series defeats exposed a glaring vulnerability in India’s traditional stronghold, as visiting spinners consistently outbowled the home contingent on subcontinental tracks. With the legendary Ravichandran Ashwin now retired and fellow veteran Ravindra Jadeja rested to manage his workload, the Indian team management is forced to fast-track its transition plan. India face a steep uphill battle in the remainder of the current ICC World Test Championship cycle, requiring seven victories from their remaining fixtures to secure a spot in the final.
Consequently, the focus shifts squarely onto the next generation of spin stocks. Young slow bowlers Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, and Harsh Dubey are expected to spearhead the spin department in the upcoming assignments. Bahutule, who represented India in two Tests and eight One-Day Internationals during a distinguished playing career that yielded 630 first-class wickets, has been brought in specifically to mentor this raw transition group.
Bahutule has already joined the Test squad, which began training for a one-off Test against Afghanistan, starting June 6, on Tuesday in New Chandigarh.
A RICH CV
The 53-year-old former leg-spinner arrives with an extensive coaching pedigree across domestic, pathway, and franchise cricket. Bahutule has previously served as the head coach of major state teams including Vidarbha, Kerala, Gujarat, and Bengal, alongside stints in the Indian Premier League with Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings.
Crucially, his familiarity with the upcoming crop of players stems from his recent roles within the BCCI structure. He was the bowling coach during India’s victorious ICC Under-19 World Cup campaign in 2022 and remained with the squad for the 2024 edition. Furthermore, his tenure at the National Cricket Academy, recently rebranded as the Centre of Excellence, between 2021 and 2024 involved extensive handling of India A and shadow squads.
“It is a tremendous honour to be appointed as the spin bowling coach of the Indian men’s cricket team,” Bahutule said in an official statement.
“Representing India as a player was a matter of immense pride, and the opportunity to contribute to Indian cricket once again in a coaching capacity is deeply special. I look forward to working with the players and supporting the team’s pursuit of excellence across formats.”
Bahutule’s primary mandate will be to reconstruct India’s home advantage, ensuring the young spin trio can replicate the tactical control and drift that defined the previous decade.
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