A fresh spin specialist has been included in the coaching squad of India ahead of an important period of international cricket. Sairaj Bahutule, who was earlier a leg-spin bowler, has become India men’s cricket team’s spin coach. His maiden duty will be to help India prepare for the upcoming Test match against Afghanistan, which starts from June 6 in New Chandigarh. The inclusion of Bahutule becomes imperative for India, considering the tough period that the team has endured in Tests recently. Bahutule, who has worked in various leagues in India as well as with the National Cricket Academy, will have the responsibility of nurturing the next set of Indian spinners.
Bahutule after his appointment as the spin-bowling coach said, “It is a tremendous honour to be appointed as the Spin Bowling Coach of the Indian Men’s Cricket Team. 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.”
The 53-year-old joins head coach Gautam Gambhir’s support staff at a key moment. India is rebuilding its spin department and preparing for important assignments in both Test and white-ball cricket. Bahutule is expected to work closely with established names and emerging talents, making his role significant from the outset.
Bahutule’s Coaching Background and India’s International Schedule After IPL 2026
Who Is Bahutule And What Is His Record As Coach?
Bahutule comes with an extensive coaching history at various levels. The veteran has been the head coach of Vidarbha, Kerala, Gujarat and Bengal before. In T20 league cricket, he has worked with Rajasthan Royals in the years from 2018-2021. Bahutule also coached the franchise team of Punjab Kings as its spin-bowling coach in the recent IPL in 2026. At the BCCI level, he was a part of the National Cricket Academy between 2021-2024. Now rebranded as the Center of Excellence, the academy played host to many aspiring talents. He trained various A sides along with some senior-level players. In 2022, he coached the bowling department for India’s ICC Under-19 World Cup team that went on to lift the trophy. For 2024, he coached the U-19 setup again.
The experienced player has earned 2 Test caps and 8 ODI caps for India between 1997-2003. In comparison, his domestic performances were much better. Bahutule bagged 630 first-class wickets in 188 matches while also grabbing 197 wickets in 143 List A games. The player-turned-coach’s familiarity with Indian pitches should help players like Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey.
Indian Team Cricket Schedule From June 2026
India’s international season resumes immediately after the conclusion of IPL 2026. The team will first face Afghanistan in a one-off Test in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10. That series will be followed by three ODIs on June 13, June 17 and June 20 in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai respectively.
Attention will then shift to white-ball cricket. India will tour Ireland for two T20Is in Belfast on June 26 and June 28. After that, the team travels to England for a major limited-overs assignment featuring five T20Is and three ODIs between July 1 and July 19.
