Name Hindi: साईराज बहुतुले / Gender Man
Sairaj Bahutule
Regarded as one of the finest spinners in Indian cricket, Sairaj Bahutule indelibly stamped his authority on domestic cricket and also donned the Indian colours internationally. Born on 6th February 1973 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, Sairaj Bahutule had a journey worth charting.
Early Life and Initial Career
An entrant into competitive cricket through the infamous Harris Shield schools tournament, Bahutule’s natural talent for leg-spin bowling quickly propelled him to represent Maharashtra at youth levels before making his first-class debut for Bombay in 1991.
Career Highlights
- Bahutule emerged as a star player during the Ranji Trophy tournaments in India, where he played primarily for Mumbai but also represented teams like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Vidarbha and Maharashtra. He picked up over 600 wickets in first class matches across his career with best innings figures of 9/98.
- In his entire career span from 1991 to 2013, Sairaj scored more than 5000 runs and captured over 600 wickets in first-class cricket, thus establishing himself as an effective all-rounder whose leg-breaks were particularly hard to crack for batsmen. His remarkable feat of taking four five-wicket hauls consecutively is still etched in the annals of Ranji Trophy history.
- On the strength of his domestic performances, he made his international debut for India against Sri Lanka in August 2003 and although he could not replicate his prodigious form at this level, he nevertheless remains respected as a formidable skilled spinner and versatile cricketer.
Retirement and Post Retirement
After retiring from all forms of cricket in 2015, Bahutule didn’t stay away from the field for long. He took up coaching and has been instrumental in grooming future generations of cricketers.
- In 2015, Sairaj was appointed as a spin bowling coach by IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders where he served till 2019. He then moved to Bengal as their head coach for the Ranji Trophy side in January 2020.
- Bahutule also had a stint with Vidarbha Cricket Association as a spin consultant and guided them to their first ever Ranji Trophy win in 2018/19 season.
A journey filled with varied experiences both on and off-field, Sairaj Bahutule’s career is nothing less than inspiring for budding cricketers. Gifted with precision, skill and an exceptional control over leg-spin, Bahutule continues playing an influential role in Indian cricket panoramically – as a player previously, and as a coach presently.
