India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, has expressed concerns that the Indian cricket team’s intense focus on mastering high-quality fast bowling might have inadvertently weakened their skills against spin. Historically celebrated for their prowess in handling the turning ball, the Indian squad’s recent performance against Sri Lanka has raised alarms, with the team losing 27 wickets to spin across the ODI series. This worrying trend is something ten Doeschate is determined to address in the coming months.
In a recent interview with TalkSport Cricket, ten Doeschate elaborated on the issue, stating, “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. I guess one of the challenges that I wasn’t expecting and kind of overlooked is the playing of spin.”
The Dutchman pointed out that the Indian team’s obsession with performing well in countries like Australia and England may have detracted from their traditional strength. “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 added with optimism.
Ten Doeschate is part of a new coaching trio under head coach Gautam Gambhir, with former South African great Morne Morkel expected to make significant contributions to the bowling department. Meanwhile, the responsibility of addressing batting concerns will be shared between Abhishek Nayar and ten Doeschate himself. Speaking on his approach to corrective measures, ten Doeschate said, “I don’t think much of what we’re going to bring is technical knowledge to these guys. It’s more about mindsets, situational awareness, and 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.”
The new coaching staff takes charge at a pivotal moment in the Indian cricket team’s journey. Fresh off their triumph as world champions in the T20 format, the team now sets their sights on the World Test Championship (WTC) and the Champions Trophy. Ten Doeschate acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead, saying, “It’s exciting and kind of daunting at the same time. In terms of what we’re looking forward to, qualifying for the WTC final represents a great 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.”
He also touched on the significance of the upcoming 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.”
Beyond these immediate goals, ten Doeschate is also eagerly looking ahead to future challenges. “Then in the next [WTC] cycle, the tour to England in the summer of 2025 is going to be fantastic, and then prepping the team 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.”
The coaching overhaul marks a significant step for the Indian cricket team as they aim to sustain their dominant run across formats. With a strong focus on mental fortitude and situational adaptability, the new coaching staff appears well-prepared to tackle the multifaceted challenges that lay ahead, ensuring that India’s rich legacy in playing spin bowling is restored and strengthened for the future.