Sairaj Bahutule has been appointed as the spin-bowling coach for the Indian men's cricket team ahead of a one-off Test against Afghanistan scheduled from June 6 to 10 in New Chandigarh. The 53-year-old former leg-spinner joins the national team after serving as the spin-bowling coach for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Bahutule has a rich coaching background, having worked with domestic teams like Kerala and Bengal, and previously with Rajasthan Royals from 2018 to 2021. He also contributed to the National Cricket Academy, assisting India A teams and supporting senior men's assignments under former head coach Rahul Dravid. As a player, Bahutule represented India in two Test matches and eight One-Day Internationals, while achieving significant success in domestic cricket. The Indian team, currently facing challenges in the World Test Championship, will look to improve their standing with the upcoming Test and a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting June 14.