India to play 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs in Sri Lanka, starting July 27.
Former India spinner Sairaj Bahutule will reportedly travel with Team India for the upcoming limited-overs tour as part of Gautam Gambhir’s coaching staff. Bahutule, who is the spin bowling coach at the NCA, will be the interim bowling coach on the tour.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made this temporary arrangement as South Africa pacer Morne Morkel, who is on track to be named the next Indian team bowling coach, won’t be able to travel to Sri Lanka.
As per the Cricbuzz report, Morkel, who now resides in Sydney, Australia, has traveled to Pretoria to attend to his unwell father. There is a possibility that he will join the squad ahead of the home series against Bangladesh, which includes two Tests and three T20Is, in September-October.
"The Morkel deal is not final; talks are still ongoing. He may join later," said the report.
Meanwhile, Bahutule will join Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate in Gautam Gambhir’s coaching staff on the Sri Lanka tour which begins on July 27 with the first of three T20Is. T Dilip, who was the fielding coach of the team during Rahul Dravid’s tenure has been retained by the board.
Bahutule, a former Mumbai stalwart, played 2 Tests and 8 ODIs for India from 1997-2003. Given that spin will rule the roost in Sri Lanka, Bahutule seems to be the perfect choice. BCCI could have also used Troy Cooley, also a bowling coach at the NCA, as the interim bowling coach.
Ryan ten Doeschate is currently with the LA Knight Riders side in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the US and is expected to join the Indian team ahead of the departure on Monday noon.