New Delhi. Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has suffered a major setback ahead of the Indian cricket team’s tour of Sri Lanka. Assistant Coach Ryan Ten Doeschate, who has been a key member of Team India for a long time, has resigned from his post. Ten Doeschate informed the BCCI about his decision after losing both the T20 and ODI series on the England tour. Now he will once again be seen in a coaching role with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ten Doeschate’s departure is considered a major setback for Gautam Gambhir’s coaching staff, as both had worked together in Team India.
Big decision taken after England tour
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Ryan Ten Doeschate informed the BCCI of his resignation during the England tour. India suffered defeats in both the T20I and ODI series on that tour. Following this, news of his departure surfaced. The confirmation of his resignation, along with the announcement of the squad for the Sri Lanka tour, marked a major change in the Indian team’s support staff.
Ten Doeschate was Gautam Gambhir’s confidante
Former Netherlands captain Ryan ten Doeschate joined the support staff when Gautam Gambhir became the head coach of the Indian team in July 2014. Gambhir had included him in the team as his own choice. He played a key role in both batting and fielding and was considered a key member of the team’s strategy.
The old pair will be seen again in KKR
Ten Doeschate will now join the Kolkata Knight Riders’ coaching staff. There, he will once again be paired with Abhishek Nayar. The two previously worked together at KKR and later served for a brief period in the Indian team’s support staff. Ten Doeschate’s association with KKR is quite long. As a player, he played a key role in the team’s IPL title victories in 2012 and 2014. He then joined the franchise as fielding coach in 2022 and remained on the coaching staff until 2024. During this time, Gautam Gambhir was the team’s mentor, and KKR won another IPL title.
Successful tenure with Team India
Ryan Ten Doeschate’s tenure with the Indian team was filled with many significant achievements. India won the 2025 Asia Cup and successfully defended the 2026 T20 World Cup, winning the trophy for the second consecutive time. However, the team’s performance in Test cricket was not as expected. India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the tour of Australia. Subsequently, New Zealand clean swept India 3-0 at home, while South Africa also defeated India 2-0. Ten Doeschate’s resignation, amid consistently poor Test performances, has posed a new challenge for the team management.
Will a new assistant coach be appointed before the Sri Lanka tour?
The Indian team is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in August for a two-match Test series. At this juncture, the departure of a key member of the support staff could prove to be a significant challenge for Gautam Gambhir. Now, the BCCI will not only have to find a new assistant coach, but also maintain balance within the team management. All eyes will be on who the BCCI appoints to replace Ten Doeschate in this important role.