Doeschate Aims to rekindle India's Strength

Ryan ten Doeschate, India’s assistant cricket coach, is dedicated to reviving the Indian batters' historical effectiveness against spin bowling as the team prepares for a pivotal home season featuring five Test matches—two against Bangladesh and three against New Zealand.

Ten Doeschate suggests that India's focus on performing well against high-quality fast bowlers in tough overseas conditions might have unintentionally weakened their spin-bowling skills, which were once a significant advantage. This decline became evident during the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka, where India lost 27 wickets to spin across three matches—the highest number recorded by any team in a three-match ODI series.

“One of the challenges I wasn’t expecting—and perhaps overlooked—is how the Indian batters are handling spin,” ten Doeschate remarked in an interview with TalkSport Cricket. “We struggled in Sri Lanka.”

Working alongside fellow assistant coaches Morne Morkel and Abhishek Nayar, ten Doeschate is committed to rectifying this issue. While Morkel concentrates on the bowling strategies, ten Doeschate and Nayar will focus on enhancing the batting performance, especially against spin.

“The Indian mindset has been so concentrated on excelling abroad—particularly in Australia and England—that we've allowed our proficiency against spin, which has always been a strength, to diminish,” ten Doeschate explained. “I’m eager to help restore that and ensure Indian batters become the best in the world at playing spin again.”

Rather than merely implementing technical adjustments, ten Doeschate stresses the significance of mental preparedness and game awareness. “It’s less about technical modifications and more about mindset, situational awareness, and guiding players through critical phases of the game. It's about exchanging ideas, conducting debriefs, and fostering a positive mental environment.”

As he embarks on this new journey, ten Doeschate remains aware of the challenges that lie ahead, particularly in light of India’s recent achievements, including their World Cup victory. However, he is enthusiastic about the future, with important events like the World Test Championship (WTC) final, the Champions Trophy, and the upcoming T20 World Cup on the radar.

“The next 18 months are incredibly exciting for a coach,” ten Doeschate expressed. “These are the series you aspire to be part of and the challenges you look forward to facing.”