BCCI adds Sairaj Bahutule to India support staff before Afghanistan Test

As India gears up for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, the BCCI has added former India spinner Sairaj Bahutule to the national team’s support staff. The appointment comes at the request of head coach Gautam Gambhir, who wanted a specialist spin-bowling coach to work closely with the team ahead of a crucial phase in the international calendar.

Bahutule, a respected figure in Indian domestic cricket, has earned a reputation for developing spin talent over the years. His coaching experience across domestic teams and franchise cricket made him a strong candidate for the role. With India set to rely heavily on its spin resources in the coming months, the management felt that bringing in a dedicated expert would strengthen preparations and provide bowlers with more focused guidance.

Specialist role added to strengthen spin department

The decision reflects the team management’s emphasis on detailed preparation and role-specific coaching. While India already has an experienced support staff, the addition of a dedicated spin coach is expected to help bowlers fine-tune their skills and improve tactical awareness during training and match situations.

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Bahutule’s experience as a former leg-spinner and coach gives him the credentials to work with both established stars and emerging talents.

His presence is expected to provide valuable technical inputs as India continues to build depth across formats. "It is a tremendous honour to be appointed as the Spin Bowling Coach of the Indian Men's Cricket Team. 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," Bahutule said after his appointment, as quoted by BCCI.

Focus shifts to Afghanistan Test

India’s attention now turns to the Afghanistan Test, which marks the beginning of another important chapter under Gambhir’s coaching setup. The match will offer the team an opportunity to assess combinations, give players valuable game time and continue building towards bigger assignments ahead.

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The addition of Bahutule also highlights the management’s willingness to make changes whenever required to improve performance standards. As competition for places increases and international cricket becomes more demanding, specialist coaches are becoming an increasingly important part of modern team structures.

With the Afghanistan Test approaching, India will hope the strengthened support staff can help the squad hit the ground running and maintain its strong record in the longest format of the game.