Sairaj Bahutule goes back to Rajasthan Royals as the spin bowling coach-A New Chapter in IPL Cooperation

A much-awaited news for Rajasthan Royals (RR) - former Indian cricketer and experienced coach Sairaj Bahutule is going to join the team again for the next season of Indian Premier League. Bahutule, with experience spanning decades of coaching, is expected to take the spin bowling mantle for the franchise having represented Royals between 2018 and 2021. The 52-year-old ex-cricketer returns to the IPL fold after a brief absence while working for the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Historic Return to RR, A Reunion for Rahul Dravid

Bahutule is returning to the Rajasthan Royals, and he finds this a sort of coming home because he shall be meeting some familiar faces there, which includes head coach Rahul Dravid whom he had worked with before. Bahutule is rather keen on reestablishing his professional relationship with Rahul Dravid. "I am looking forward to the reunion with Rahul. It was Rahul who first introduced me into the Indian team during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in 2023 when I was the spin-bowling coach.". I was part of his coaching staff in Sri Lanka as well, so I am looking forward to the reunion," Bahutule said in an exclusive interview. Their shared experience of working under the Indian national team with the coach Dravid further strengthens the bond between the two.

Bahutule will work hand-in-glove with the franchise's bowling coach Shane Bond at Rajasthan Royals who has been on board since 2020 from New Zealand with his experience being that of an erstwhile New Zealand fast bowler. His own role might be to see to the structuring of the spin department at Rajasthan Royals, thereby providing the right mix for them in IPL 2025 to get the correct balance and strike power for it.

Bahutule's Long Career as a Coach

Bahutule, being a product of two Tests and five ODIs, first got his first professional calling after retirement as a coach. As such, his sojourn through the corridors of NCA—now called the Centre of Excellence—formed part of a greater role as one of its pivotal members, during which time, he contributed enormously to working through the veins and arteries of cricketing young Indian talent into that of ensuring a strong, stable, and performing spin department of India.

This has developed Bahutule into the perfect individual to take up the spin-bowling role at Rajasthan Royals, and he will come in very handy to instruct the newcomers for preparation but also to hone the skills of those already existing in the Royals squad. High-profile names have been lined up for the Royals in bowling - there is English pacer Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Akash Madhwal, and Afghan bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi. Apart from them are Sri Lankan spinners such as Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Kumar Kartikeya. Bahutule will play a big role in setting the Royals' bowling up to meet the tasks of the days to come in IPL.

Future Looks Exciting for RR Spin Bowling

In the IPL, Rajasthan Royals have been consistent players. Their deserved reputation has also been in promoting playing prospects. Bahutule's support and game knowledge will add significant weight to the franchise's plans for further development in the spin department. It would either be about tactical improvements or helping support young spinners who come in, or helping establish bowlers better, says Fahad Shaikh, whose views the writer of the article strongly upholds.

One of the most promising teams in the IPL, Rajasthan Royals, have time and again shown the ability to strike a right balance between the international and the domestic players. Bahutule's inclusion into the coaching staff indicates that the team is going all out to ensure success and growth. Fans of RR would be keenly interested in how the spinners develop under him as he has got an elite high-profile coaching setup, with the likes of Dravid and Bond.

A Potential New Venture-RR's Bid for Trent Rockets in The Hundred

There is other news that there is an escalation of speculations regarding Rajasthan Royals participation in the expansion process of the UK's tournament, The Hundred. Sources have revealed that lead owner Manoj Badale may re-enter the competitive bidding process for the Trent Rockets team in The Hundred. The Nottingham-based franchise is said to go up for sale and, as the news suggests, UK-based Badale is looking forward to having a team in the ECB-run 100-ball competition.

Badale already has teams in two other T20 leagues, namely Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League and South African T20 league Paarl Royals. The two other teams still in the market are the Trent Rockets and Southern Brave. Badale's involvement would therefore be an exciting expansion for the Royals brand globally in cricket. This would, in turn give Rajasthan Royals a footprint in multiple international leagues, further deepening their presence globally and growing the brand far beyond the IPL.

The Future of Rajasthan Royals and Cricket's Global Expansion

It marks a period of growth and ambition for the Rajasthan Royals with the move into The Hundred and Bahutule joining the Royals' coaching staff back in. With a good base of players and a proper coaching setup, they are set to make an impact in the upcoming IPL season and perhaps even in The Hundred. As the game of cricket is being moulded in the new future, Rajasthan Royals is positioning itself as one of the strong players not only in the IPL but also in international cricket's other emerging formats.

It promises to be an exciting season for the fans as Bahutule's enormous coaching experience will be backed by the leadership of Dravid and Bond to bring out the best out of this Rajasthan Royals' squad