One of Team India’s newly appointed assistant coaches, Ryan ten Doeschate, believes that his foremost challenge will be to address India’s recent vulnerability against spin bowling. This issue has become increasingly apparent in the wake of recent performances. In a candid discussion with TalkSport Cricket, ten Doeschate expressed his surprise at having to tackle spin bowling as a major area of concern for the Indian batting lineup. His perspective shifted notably after witnessing India’s setbacks in their recent tour of Sri Lanka.
India found themselves in a quagmire concerning spin during their three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, where they conceded 27 wickets to spin—making it the highest number of wickets lost by any team to spinners in a bilateral men’s ODI series consisting of four or fewer matches. The Sri Lankan spin attack, led by Dunith Wellalage, proved particularly devastating. Wellalage became the first spinner to claim multiple five-wicket hauls against India in ODI history. His seven-wicket haul, coupled with leg-break bowler Jeffrey Vandersay’s crucial contributions, dismantled India’s batting order, consequently leading Sri Lanka to their first bilateral series triumph over India since 1997.
Ryan ten Doeschate opined that India’s relentless focus on excelling in overseas conditions has come at the cost of their traditional strength against spin bowling. He believes rectifying this imbalance will require a deliberate effort to reestablish Indians as the best players of spin worldwide. “The mindset of India has been such that they’ve been so desperate to do well overseas,” ten Doeschate commented. “The focus has moved to doing well in Australia and England to such an extent that we’ve let playing spin, which has always been a strength of the Indian team, fall back a little bit. That’s one thing I’m looking forward to helping with—getting to that position where Indians are the best players of spin in the world again.”
Ryan ten Doeschate’s comments have come at a critical juncture for Indian cricket, as the team faces a series of marquee tournaments on the horizon. The former Dutch international acknowledges the massive challenges but also expresses excitement over being part of the Indian team’s journey.
. Elaborating on the multi-faceted responsibilities he will undertake, ten Doeschate stated, “It’s exciting and kind of daunting at the same time. In terms of what we’re looking forward to, qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final next June is a big goal. There’s a significant opportunity with 10 Tests left—five in India over the next couple of months and then five more in Australia at the end of 2024.”
Ten Doeschate pointed out that following the Test matches, the medium-term goal for the team would be preparing for the Champions Trophy in February 2025. With only three ODIs left in the preparatory phase, switching between formats and readying the team will be a considerable challenge. “The Champions Trophy is something they are desperate to win. Then, looking ahead in the next WTC cycle, the tour to England in the summer of 2025 will be fantastic. Prepping the team for the 2026 T20 World Cup is also on the agenda,” he revealed.
Ten Doeschate also underscored the timing of joining the coaching setup, especially when the team has just returned from the 2024 T20 World Cup. “In terms of timing, it’s quite difficult to walk into a team that’s just come back from the World Cup. But looking ahead over the next 18 months, it’s mouth-watering as a coach. These are all the series you want to be involved in and all the challenges you want to come up against,” he added.
The intricate balance between nurturing existing talents and molding new ones will be crucial for ten Doeschate as he helps Team India navigate the rigors of international cricket. His focus on elevating India’s proficiency against spin could be pivotal, ensuring the team not only excels in various formats but also reclaims its traditional strengths. As India gears up for these upcoming contests, fans and players alike will be keenly observing the contributions of their new assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, as he strives to bring out the best in the team.
