Overview
- The BCCI announced the appointment on Tuesday, June 2, and Bahutule has already linked up with the team in Mullanpur before the one-off Test in New Chandigarh that starts June 6.
- He will serve as a full-time spin-bowling coach across formats and is expected to remain with the squad for the three-match ODI series that follows the Test.
- Bahutule left his role at Punjab Kings after IPL 2026 to take the national job and brings deep coaching experience from the NCA/Centre of Excellence, India A and U19 setups plus IPL stints with Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings.
- The hire addresses a clear gap after the retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin and the resting of Ravindra Jadeja and responds to recent home Test defeats by New Zealand and South Africa that exposed weaknesses in India’s spin resources.
- Selectors and fans should watch how Bahutule develops younger spinners such as Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, a change that could affect team selection and India’s prospects in the current World Test Championship cycle.