Photo via Hindustan Times

630 wickets, just 2 Tests and years in Kumble-Bhajji’s shadow: The spinner who found redemption with Asian Games gold

Despite amassing 630 wickets and over 6,100 runs across 188 first-class appearances spanning 18 seasons, leg-spinning all-rounder Sairaj Bahutule earned merely two Test caps and eight ODI appearances for India from 1997 to 2003. His domestic exploits for Mumbai, Vidarbha, and Assam featured 27 five-wicket innings hauls and nine centuries, contributing to multiple Ranji Trophy titles.

However, the presence of legendary pair Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh—who collectively captured upwards of 1,000 Test wickets—consistently barred Bahutule from extended national opportunities. Early in his journey back in February 1988 at Azad Maidan, he had even bowled through Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli's historic 664-run stand during a Harris Shield clash between St.

Xavier's High School and Shardashram Vidyamandir.