Former Indian leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule has joined Rajasthan Royals as the spin-bowling coach for the new season. Bahutule was already familiar with the franchise having worked with them between 2018 and 2021 in the same position. His comeback to the Royals is a landmark moment in the team’s coaching setup before the IPL 2025 season.
Bahu Tule’s Rejoining Rajasthan Royals Statement
After his reappointment, Bahutule shared his enthusiasm and appreciation in a statement. He highlighted his admiration for the franchise’s vision and dedication to nurturing young players, which was exactly in line with his own coaching ideology. Bahutule said, *”It is a great honor for me to join Rajasthan Royals again. The franchise’s commitment to nurture young talent and play exciting cricket matches my coaching ideology.”. I am excited to work with Rahul and the rest of the coaching team to improve our bowling department and support the success of the team. We are excited to make wonderful achievements in the future season.*
Bahutule’s Coaching Career
Prior to returning to Rajasthan Royals, Bahutule continued developing his career as a coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), where he worked as the spin-bowling coach. He had also experience also for the India A teams with the support staff role in some of the series.
One such prominent recent duty of his has been as the assistant coach of temporary India coach VVS Laxman, working during India’s tour to Ireland. Furthermore, Bahutule was instrumental as India’s gold medal-winning team bowling coach at the 2023 Asian Games, further establishing himself as a credible coaching figure.
A Successful Playing Career
As a bowler, Sairaj Bahutule was an extremely talented leg-spinner with remarkable statistics in domestic cricket. He took 633 wickets in first-class cricket and 10 wickets in T20 cricket. Even though his international career was short-lived, Bahutule played for India in two Tests and eight One-Day Internationals (ODIs), after which he moved to coaching.
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Rahul Dravid’s Confidence in Bahutule
The recently appointed head coach of Rajasthan Royals Rahul Dravid, who has taken over the position from Kumar Sangakkara, also welcomed Bahutule’s return with enthusiasm. According to Dravid, Bahutule’s insight into spin bowling and his long coaching experience made him think these assets would work wonders for the team.
“Sairaj’s deep knowledge of spin bowling and vast coaching experience will prove very useful for us,” said Dravid. His capacity to mentor young bowlers aligns with our vision for the team. We’ve previously worked with him too, and I have no doubt his inputs and training will be immensely valuable for our players.”
Rajasthan Royals’ Coaching Staff Changes
Hiring Sairaj Bahutule as the spin-bowling coach accompanies other major shifts in the Royals’ coaching panel. Ahead of IPL 2025, Rahul Dravid has been appointed as the head coach, replacing Kumar Sangakkara. Vikram Rathour, ex-Indian cricketer, has also joined as the team’s batting coach. These appointments signal a fresh start for Rajasthan Royals as they aim to develop a competitive team and improve their chances in the next IPL season.
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Ahead of IPL 2025
With the coaching staff in position and Bahutule’s comeback, Rajasthan Royals will be ready to make a serious push during the IPL 2025 season. The balance of experience and new ideas within the coaching department is likely to be key to developing young talent and creating an exciting bowling team that can perform at the very top level.
Fans and analysts alike will be looking forward to the outcome of these strategic adjustments as the Royals seek success in the coming season.
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