India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has pinpointed a significant shift in the Indian cricket team’s playing style, which could be inadvertently damaging the team’s performance against spin bowling. Historically, Indian cricket teams have been recognized for their adeptness at handling spin. However, ten Doeschate believes a newfound emphasis on mastering fast bowling, particularly to prepare for overseas tours, has led to declining effectiveness against spin. The recent ODI series against Sri Lanka served as a stark reminder of this concerning trend, as India lost a staggering 27 wickets to spin.
Speaking to TalkSport Cricket in an insightful interview, ten Doeschate reflected on this paradigm shift. “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,” he revealed. Ten Doeschate and his coaching staff are now charged with the task of recalibrating the team’s approach to spin bowling. “I guess one of the challenges that I wasn’t expecting and kind of overlooked is the playing of spin.”
Ten Doeschate elaborated on how India’s overseas aspirations have inadvertently overshadowed their traditional strengths. “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.”
In his capacity as an assistant coach, ten Doeschate forms part of a new coaching outfit led by head coach Gautam Gambhir. Fellow assistant coaches Morne Morkel and Abhishek Nayar will be contributing heavily on specialized fronts. While Morkel is poised to enhance the team’s bowling tactics, the responsibility of fine-tuning batting skills is shared between Nayar and ten Doeschate. Notably, ten Doeschate emphasized that the focus would not be on technical adjustments but instead on strategic, psychological aspects of the game. “I don’t think much of what we’re going to bring is technical knowledge to these guys,” he asserted.
Building situational awareness and bolstering mental fortitude are central to ten Doeschate’s coaching philosophy.
. “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,” he shared. This holistic approach seeks to realign the team’s focus on optimizing their overall game management.
The timing of this new coaching regime’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Indian cricket. Fresh off their triumph as T20 World Champions, the team faces multiple high-stakes tournaments in the immediate future. The World Test Championship (WTC) and the Champions Trophy are looming large on the horizon, and these competitions underscore the urgency of addressing playing deficiencies. “It’s exciting and kind of daunting at the same time,” ten Doeschate admitted, reflecting on the immediate roadmap.
With a specific emphasis on the Test arena, ten Doeschate remained optimistic about India’s prospects. “In terms of what we’re looking forward to, qualifying for the WTC final. 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,” he stated. The upcoming series will be crucial for India’s standing in the WTC, requiring high adaptability from the players.
The limited-prep window for the Champions Trophy, with only three ODIs in the run-up, adds another layer of challenge. “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 remarked.
Looking ahead, the new coaching team is gearing up for a tantalizing calendar of fixtures, including a tour to England and 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,” ten Doeschate concluded with palpable excitement.
Under his guidance, the Indian team aims to regain its prowess against spin, forging a robust blend of past strengths and future aspirations.