The former Indian cricketer Sairaj Bahutule will reportedly join India's senior men's team's support staff for the upcoming white-ball tour to Sri Lanka. The spin all-rounder is currently associated with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and will join the Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff as an interim bowling coach for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka.
According to a report from Cricbuzz, the BCCI has finalised Bahutule's name for the bowling coach role ahead of the former South African cricketer Morne Morkel. Bahutule will join T Dilip, Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as India's coaching staff for the six white-ball matches against Sri Lanka.
Bahutule, 51, played two Tests and eight ODIs for India and took over 800 wickets in domestic cricket. His spin expertise will definitely prove beneficial to the Indian team on Sri Lanka's turning spin-friendly wickets.
Morkel was reportedly linked with the job but had to travel back home to attend to his unwell father. The report adds that the South African cricketer might join the staff later as the talks continue with the BCCI. The former all-rounder is expected to join the support staff for India's multi-format series against Bangladesh at home.
Meanwhile, the BCCI is looking to officially unveil Gautam Gambhir and his support staff on Monday. The former World Cup winner is also scheduled to address the media on Monday morning in Mumbai.
More to follow...