Ex-international cricketer from India, Sairaj Bahutule, will be the new spin bowling coach for the Rajasthan Royals going into this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).
Bahutule worked with RR from 2018-21 and has quit from the role at the National Cricket Academy or now referred to as Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Bahutule told TOI from Bengaluru: “Yes, I have resigned from the COE because of personal/family reasons. I am grateful to former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, BCCI, Rahul Dravid (then head of COE), and VVS (current head of COE) for giving me the opportunity to work with India’s top spinners across formats.”
He’ll be with Shane Bond, the New Zealand bowling coach and head coach Rahul Dravid. He already had an association with Dravid when he was the in-charge of the Indian side.
“The discussions are ongoing, and I’m close to finalising my involvement with the franchise. There are still a few details to be worked out, but I’m excited to be realigning with the Royals,” Bahutule told Cricbuzz.
The 51-year-old former Mumbai cricketer, who played in two Tests and eight ODIs for India during his six-year-long international career, has been serving as bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for the last three years and, on a number of occasions in the past, has served as bowling coach with former head coach Rahul Dravid and NCA head VVS Laxman.
Bahutule also served as the bowling coach of the India National Cricket Team for a limited period just after the T20 World Cup 2024, filling in for the time taken in the appointment of Morne Morkel.
“I’m really excited to be back with Rahul. He’s the person who got me into the Indian team during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series when I was a spin bowling coach. I was also part of his coaching staff in Sri Lanka, so the reunion holds a lot for me.”
The 52-year-old has played for India in two Tests and 8 ODIs.
The former Mumbai spinner is recognized for grassroots development, mentoring and supporting numerous budding players under the aegis of BCCI at the Centre of Excellence.
