Sairaj Bahutule leaves PBKS to join Gambhir’s backroom as spin coach ahead of IND vs AFG Test

Sairaj Bahutule will assume the role of India’s spin bowling coach from the India vs Afghanistan one-off Test onwards. The former leg-spinner had been working with the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, after parting ways with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) last year.

BCCI fulfils Gambhir’s request

Last month, it was reported that India head coach Gautam Gambhir had personally requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to hire Bahutule as India’s spin bowling coach. Since taking over from Rahul Dravid in July 2024, Gambhir was working without a spin coach.

The move received backlash, with India losing 0-3 to New Zealand in 2024 and 0-2 to South Africa in 2025. The whitewashes opened Gambhir’s eyes. Bahutule will join India’s squad in Mullanpur and start working with Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, and Harsh Dubey.

The 53-year-old is a reputed coach and has worked with several young spinners during his 3-year stint as a specialist bowling coach at the Centre of Excellence (formerly the National Cricket Academy) in Bengaluru. Bahutule worked as India’s interim bowling coach in 2024, during Gambhir’s first tour as head coach. He also has experience working with several domestic teams as well, having retired in 2013.

Sairaj Bahutule’s coaching resume

India already had coaches who could help batters: Gambhir, Sitanshu Kotak and Ryan ten Doeschate. The same went for fast bowlers, who had Morne Morkel’s services. The only missing piece of the puzzle was a spin bowling coach. Now, India has got that. One can expect the Indian spinners’ performance, who were outbowled by Kiwi and Proteas spinners, to improve as well.

Bahutule won’t be limited to Test cricket. He’ll be part of the coaching setup across formats, and his next assignment after the one-off Test will be the India vs Afghanistan ODI series.

India men’s cricket team’s coaching staff

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