Following a recommendation from head coach Gautam Gambhir, former Indian leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule is reportedly the frontrunner to join the national team’s coaching staff as a specialist spin-bowling coach. This move would address a long-standing gap in the Indian setup, as the team has functioned without a dedicated spin mentor for several years. During Ravi Shastri’s tenure, Bharat Arun managed the overall bowling department, succeeded by Paras Mhambrey under Rahul Dravid. Currently, Morne Morkel serves as the bowling coach, but the addition of Bahutule would provide specific expertise for the spinners.
Sairaj Bahutule to become Team India's spin bowling coach?
Bahutule is no stranger to the national setup, having previously served in a stand-in capacity. Notably, he worked with the spin unit during the high-stakes 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy on home soil. According to reports from Cricbuzz, Bahutule has already engaged in discussions with Gambhir and BCCI officials regarding the role. His extensive coaching resume also includes stints with the Rajasthan Royals and his current position with the Punjab Kings (PBKS).
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However, accepting the prestigious national role would require Bahutule to relinquish his franchise duties. Having joined the Punjab Kings ahead of the 2026 IPL season, he would be mandated to step down from his IPL position to comply with BCCI's conflict-of-interest regulations and commit fully to the Indian team's international calendar.
Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach is currently set to run through the 2027 ODI World Cup. If Sairaj Bahutule joins the coaching staff as expected, his initial term as spin-bowling coach would likely cover the lead-up to the next major ICC event. While the current contract has a clear endpoint, there is a strong possibility that the BCCI will extend Gambhir’s stay based on the team's performance in upcoming global tournaments.
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Under Gambhir’s leadership, the Indian team has enjoyed a dominant period in white-ball cricket, recently achieving historic success. The Men in Blue notably ended a 14-year drought to claim a 50-over World Cup title by defeating New Zealand in a hard-fought final. Building on that momentum in early 2026, a Suryakumar Yadav-led squad made history by becoming the first team to successfully retain the T20 World Cup trophy, once again securing victory over New Zealand in the championship match.
Talking about Bahutule’s current team, PBKS have had a strong but lately challenging run in IPL 2026. They currently sit in second place on the points table with 13 points and a healthy Net Run Rate of +0.571, having secured six wins from ten matches. After a brilliant start to the season and four consecutive victories, the team's momentum has stalled. Following a rained-out game against KKR and a recent three-match losing streak, with defeats to the Royals, Titans, and Sunrisers, PBKS now likely needs at least two wins from their remaining fixtures to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.