Sairaj Bahutule may join the Indian team as its spin-bowling coach. The former India spinner, currently associated with Punjab Kings, is expected to part ways with the franchise after the ongoing IPL season. He is understood to have held discussions with all concerned, including head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Sources within the BCCI say Bahutule (53), who played two Tests and eight ODIs for India from 2001 to 03, enjoys a strong reputation for his spin-bowling coaching skills, something that is believed to have caught the attention of head coach Gautam Gambhir. The Team India coaching setup includes batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, fast-bowling coach Morne Morkel, fielding coach T Dilip and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. There is no designated spin-bowling coach at the moment, and Gambhir is understood to have recommended Bahutule's name for the role.
Bahutule has travelled with the senior Indian team on a few occasions in the past during his stint with the National Cricket Academy/Centre of Excellence, headed by VVS Laxman. Former India head coach Rahul Dravid had specifically requested Bahutule to be part of the Indian team during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He was also part of Dravid's support staff during a tour of Sri Lanka.
Bahutule is expected to be onboarded into the Indian team setup soon, although the timeline will depend on his contractual obligations with Punjab Kings. He joined the franchise under head coach Ricky Ponting ahead of the current IPL season. Before joining the PBKS team, Bahutule was associated with Rajasthan Royals under Dravid for a year.
Bahutule may have to cut short his stint with the side to take up the India role. However, Punjab Kings are unlikely to stand in his way given that the opportunity involves the Indian team and the BCCI. Bahutule could not be reached for comment immediately. Calls and text messages to him remained unanswered. Cricbuzz also reached out to the management of Punjab Kings.
