Indian Cricket Team: Assistant Coach Ryan ten Doeschate Targets Batters Spin Woes Ahead Of Crucial Test Season and WTC Push

Ryan ten Doeschate, the newly appointed assistant coach for the Indian cricket team, has openly addressed a critical issue facing Indian batters - playing spin. Ten Doeschate, a former Netherlands all-rounder, has emphasized the need to refocus on this area, which has historically been India's strength but has faltered in recent times.

Speaking to TalkSport Cricket, ten Doeschate highlighted the challenges Indian batters faced during their recent ODI series loss in Sri Lanka, where they lost 27 wickets to spin. This marked India's first bilateral ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka in 27 years.

"We got undone against Sri Lanka," ten Doeschate acknowledged. "The mindset of India has been such that they've been so desperate to do well overseas. The focus has moved to doing well in Australia and England, and we've kind of let playing spin, which was always a strength of the Indian team, fall back a little bit."

The assistant coach is determined to help Indian batters regain their mastery over spin as they prepare for a crucial home season, including five Test matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Both teams are known for their formidable spin bowlers, posing a significant challenge for India.

Ten Doeschate believes the issue lies more in the mental approach than in technical flaws. "I don't think much of what we're going to bring is technical knowledge. It's more about mindsets, situational awareness, and how we think they can control certain phases of the game," he said.

His approach involves encouraging open discussions, de-briefing sessions, and maintaining a positive mental space for the players. The former Dutch cricketer, who has extensive coaching experience with Kent, Kolkata Knight Riders, and the LA Knight Riders, will work alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir and fellow assistant Abhishek Nayar.

Ten Doeschate expressed excitement about the road ahead for the Indian team, particularly their goals of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June 2025 and preparing for the Champions Trophy in February 2025.

India currently leads the WTC table, with 10 crucial Test matches on the horizon-five at home and five in Australia. "It's exciting and kind of daunting at the same time," ten Doeschate admitted. "There's a great opportunity with 10 Tests left, five in India and then going to Australia, which is going to be great."

Looking ahead, ten Doeschate expressed confidence in India's ability to prepare for upcoming challenges, despite the tight schedule. He emphasized the importance of balancing preparation across formats, especially with only three ODIs left before the Champions Trophy. "Switching between formats and getting the team ready for that will be really challenging, but it's something they're desperate to win," he said.

Ten Doeschate acknowledged the pressures of stepping into a successful team fresh off a T20 World Cup victory but relished the opportunity to guide India through the challenges of the next 18 months. "It's all the series you want to be involved in and all the challenges you want to come up against," he concluded.