In an intriguing turn of events for Indian cricket, Ryan ten Doeschate, the team’s newly appointed assistant coach, has raised concerns over the Indian team’s recent struggles against spin bowling. Ten Doeschate, known for his cricketing exploits with the Netherlands, attributed this weakness to a shift in the team’s mindset towards excelling against high-quality fast bowling, a necessity for succeeding in countries like Australia and England.
The recent ODI series against Sri Lanka, where India fielded a nearly full-strength squad, served as a wake-up call. The Indian batsmen fell prey to spin, an area which was once considered their forte. The team lost as many as 27 wickets to Sri Lankan spinners, spotlighting a glaring vulnerability. Ten Doeschate, in a recent interview with TalkSport Cricket, highlighted this paradoxical situation.
“The Indian mindset has become so driven to do well overseas that the focus has moved away from what was once their strength—playing spin,” ten Doeschate said. “One of the challenges I wasn’t expecting, and which I kind of overlooked, is the playing of spin.”
Ten Doeschate’s observations carry weight. Historically, India has produced some of the best spin players in the world. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman had mastered the art of playing spin. However, the recent performances suggest a shift away from this skill set. The assistant coach sees it as his responsibility to bring back this excellence.
“We were undone in Sri Lanka, and I think the mindset of the Indians has been such that they are so driven to do well overseas. I think the focus has moved to doing well in Australia and doing well in England, and we’ve kind of let playing spin, which was always the strength of the Indian team, fall back a little bit. So that’s one thing I’m looking forward to, helping get to that position where Indians are the best players of spin in the world again,” he elaborated.
The new coaching setup under head coach Gautam Gambhir promises a blend of experience and fresh perspectives. Morne Morkel, another of the three assistant coaches, is expected to fortify the bowling department, while the batting responsibilities will be split between Abhishek Nayar and ten Doeschate. Interestingly, ten Doeschate does not anticipate making drastic technical changes.
“I don’t think much of what we’re going to bring is technical knowledge to these guys,” ten Doeschate said.
. “It’s more about mindsets, situational awareness, how we think they can control certain phases of the game. It’s about throwing ideas out there, de-briefing, and keeping the mental space really good. That’s going to be really important.”
Indeed, the timing of this coaching transition is crucial. India has just been crowned world champions in the T20 format and has significant forthcoming targets, including the World Test Championship (WTC) and the Champions Trophy. Ten Doeschate acknowledges the duality of excitement and pressure in his new role.
“It’s exciting and kind of daunting at the same time,” he said. “In terms of what we’re looking forward to, qualifying for the WTC final is a primary goal. There’s a great opportunity with 10 Tests left, five in India over the next couple of months and then going to Australia for five more at the end of 2024 is going to be great.”
The Champions Trophy is another key milestone on the horizon. With only three ODIs left in the preparation phase, switching between formats to ensure readiness for this significant tournament poses its own set of challenges.
“Then in the medium term, there’s the Champions Trophy. With only three ODIs left in the prep phase, it’s going to be really challenging to switch between the formats and get the team ready for that, which again is something they’re desperate to win,” he explained.
Looking even further ahead, ten Doeschate pointed to the next cycle of the WTC and the tour to England in the summer of 2025 as exciting prospects. Additionally, he is already eyeing preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
“In terms of timing, it’s quite difficult to walk into a team that’s just come back with the World Cup, but in terms of what’s ahead for the next 18 months, it’s mouth-watering as a coach. It’s all the series you want to be involved in and all the challenges you want to come up against,” he concluded.
As the Indian cricket team gears up for these multifaceted challenges, the role of the new coaching staff, and ten Doeschate’s focus on reinvigorating spin play, becomes increasingly significant. The road ahead is laden with high-stakes encounters, both at home and abroad, underscoring the importance of mastering all aspects of the game.