The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday, 2 June appointed former India all-rounder Sairaj Bahutule as the spin bowling coach of the senior men's national team, tasking him with shaping the next generation of Indian spinners across formats. The appointment was confirmed in an official statement from the board in Mumbai.

What the BCCI said

'The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Sairaj Bahutule as the Spin Bowling Coach of the Indian Cricket Team (Senior Men),' the board said in its statement. The role places Bahutule at the centre of India's spin pipeline at a time when the team is rebuilding its slow-bowling depth across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

From player to specialist coach

Bahutule represented India in 2 Tests and 8 One-Day Internationals, but it is his domestic record that built his reputation as one of the finest all-rounders of his era. Over nearly two decades in first-class cricket, the former Mumbai player amassed 6,176 runs and picked up 630 wickets, a body of work that has underpinned his second innings as a coach.

A long coaching résumé

Since retiring, Bahutule has served as head coach of Vidarbha, Kerala, Gujarat and Bengal, and has worked as spin-bowling coach with IPL franchises Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. He was bowling coach during India's ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup-winning campaign in 2022 and was part of the coaching staff for the 2024 edition as well. Between 2021 and 2024, he was a key figure at the BCCI's National Cricket Academy — now rebranded the Centre of Excellence — and worked closely with both India A and the senior side as a specialist bowling coach.

Bahutule's reaction

Reacting to the appointment, Bahutule called it a 'tremendous honour'. '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,' he said.

Why the timing matters

The hire comes as India navigates a transition in its spin department, with senior names ageing and a fresh crop of wrist and finger spinners pushing through the domestic and India A circuits. Bahutule's pathway experience — from Under-19 to NCA to India A — gives the team management a coach already familiar with most of the names in the pipeline. His remit, going by the board's framing, will extend well beyond a single format.