Mumbai: Former India and Mumbai leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutole. TOI has learned that he is set to join the Indian men’s team as spin bowling coach. Bahotole is currently the spin bowling coach of Punjab Kings and will part ways with the franchise after the ongoing IPL 2026 season.“Yes, Bahtole is joining as Team India’s spin bowling coach for the next two years. India needed an experienced spin bowling coach to guide the spinners, and in turn, Team India’s head coach. Gautam Gambhir And senior BCCI officials contacted Bahutole,” a BCCI source confirmed to TOI on Friday.Bahotole’s tenure is expected to begin with the home series against Afghanistan in June.
Strong domestic and international track record
Bahotole, 53, played two Tests and eight ODIs for India between 1997 and 2003, taking five wickets. The former Mumbai all-rounder also featured in 188 first-class matches, taking 630 wickets at an average of 26.00 and scoring 6,176 runs at an average of 31.83.Over the years, Bahutole served as India’s bowling coach and spin bowling consultant in around 10 tours and series under Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who briefly coached the Indian team on an interim basis. He was the head coach of India’s white-ball tour of South Africa in November 2024 as well as the India Emerging Team that toured Oman last year. He also served as bowling coach for the Indian teams that toured Ireland and Sri Lanka and at the Asian Games in 2023.
Extensive experience with Indian teams
Bahtole was the spin bowling consultant for the Indian team during the 2022-23 home Test series against Australia at the insistence of the then head coach Rahul Dravid. He has worked with many of India’s leading spinners as well as many upcoming talents.Bahtole, who has extensive coaching experience, was also the spin bowling coach at BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for three-and-a-half years from 2021 to 2024. He served as the spin bowling coach of Rajasthan Royals from 2018 to 2021 and again in 2025. The Mumbaikar has also been the head coach of several domestic teams including Bengal, Vidarbha, Kerala and Gujarat.
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Team India’s coaching set-up currently consists of batting coach Sitanshu Kotick, fast bowling coach Morne Morkel, fielding coach T Dilip and assistant coach Ryan ten Douchet, now Bahotole is set to take on the role of spin bowling coach.Bahutul could not be reached for comment.
