PBKS coach to join Indian team [Source: AFP, X]One of the Punjab Kings IPL 2026 coaching staff is set to join the Indian cricket team after the ongoing IPL season. Led by Shreyas Iyer, PBKS have been magnificent in the IPL 2026. The Punjab-based team has won six of its first ten group-stage fixtures, steadily progressing towards the IPL playoffs. Amid the team's impressive show in the tournament, a key member of the PBKS coaching staff is reported to join the Indian team. Team India coaching setup to be revamped after IPLGautam Gambhir currently serves as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Sitanshu Kotak is the batting coach of the team, with Netherlands legend Ryan ten Doeschate performing the assistant coach's role. Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel is Team India's bowling coach, while T Dilip is the fielding coach of the side. So, the Indian team doesn't have a spin bowling coach to guide the spinners. It has been learnt that the BCCI is going to fill the vacancy by hiring former Indian cricketer and the Punjab Kings' current spin bowling coach, Sairaj Bahutule. Punjab Kings' Sairaj Bahutule likely to be a part of Team India coaching staffSairaj Bahutule is currently associated with the Punjab Kings in IPL 2026. While Ricky Ponting serves as the head coach of the Shreyas Iyer-led side, Bahutule has played a pivotal role in fine-tuning the Kings' spin bowling department, led by Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar. According to Cricbuzz, the former cricketer is all set to be a part of Team India's coaching staff, with the BCCI planning to appoint him as the spin bowling coach. Also Read: Shreyas Iyer Gets Green Signal For India Captaincy After IPLThe report claims that Sairaj Bahutule has had discussions with the BCCI's key decision-makers and head coach Gautam Gambhir and might join the Indian team coaching setup after the IPL. "Cricbuzz understands that there is a strong possibility of Sairaj Bahutule joining the Indian team as spin-bowling coach. He is understood to have held discussions with Gautam Gambhir and senior BCCI officials. He is currently associated with Punjab Kings," the report stated. Sairaj Bahutule was a prominent figure in the Indian domestic circuit. He played 343 domestic matches, including 188 First-Class, 143 List-A and 12 T20 matches. Bahutule represented three state teams- Mumbai, Maharashtra and Assam- during his playing days, scalping 837 wickets across formats. Besides outfoxing the batters with his leg-break bowling, Bahutule could chip in with valuable knocks down the order. He also amassed 6176 First-Class runs with the help of nine hundreds and 26 half-centuries. Sairaj Bahutule played 10 international matches, including two Tests and eight ODIs, scalping five wickets and scoring 62 runs, in both formats combined. Sairaj Bahutule's coaching career at a glanceThe 53-year-old has previously served as the bowling coach of the India-A team on their 2021 tour of South Africa. He was also the bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence for four years before being replaced by Sunil Joshi. Bahutule has also had coaching stints with Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, besides performing the head coach's role for several state teams such as Kerala, Bengal and Gujarat. Also Read: Shaheen Afridi Suffers Brutal Humiliation By The Hands Of Fellow Pakistan Commentator
