India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, believes that the team’s shift in focus towards excelling against high-quality fast bowling might have inadvertently led to their diminished performance against spin. Historically known for their strong play against spin, India recently struggled, losing 27 wickets to spin in the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka. Ten Doeschate is determined to address this issue and restore India’s formidable reputation against spin bowling.
In a detailed interview with TalkSport Cricket, ten Doeschate reflected on the issue and the steps forward. “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,” remarked ten Doeschate. He emphasized that the team’s overseas ambitions might have overshadowed their traditional prowess against slow bowling, stating, “I guess one of the challenges that I wasn’t expecting and kind of overlooked is the playing of spin.”
The recent series against Sri Lanka highlighted this deficiency glaringly. “We were undone in Sri Lanka,” said ten Doeschate. “The mindset of the Indians has been 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.”
Understanding the gravity and complexity of this issue, ten Doeschate noted that the solution won’t be deeply rooted in technical adjustments. “I don’t think much of what we’re going to bring is technical knowledge to these guys,” he stated. Instead, he highlighted the importance of mental preparedness and tactical awareness. “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.
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Ten Doeschate, part of the new coaching team under head coach Gautam Gambhir, will collaborate closely with Abhishek Nayar to enhance the team’s batting, while Morne Morkel will focus on the bowling unit. This new coaching staff assumes their roles at a pivotal time for Indian cricket. The moment is both exciting and challenging as India recently claimed the T20 World Cup title and aims for more significant accomplishments such as the World Test Championship (WTC) and the Champions Trophy.
“The timing is quite interesting,” stated ten Doeschate. “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 is 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.”
With major competitions like the WTC final and the Champions Trophy on the horizon, ten Doeschate recognizes the challenges of shifting between different formats to keep the team prepared. “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.”
The planning extends into the next WTC cycle, underlining the tour of England in the summer of 2025 and the preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup. “The tour to England [summer of 2025] is going to be fantastic and then prepping the team for the [2026] T20 World Cup,” revealed ten Doeschate.
Despite the daunting prospects, ten Doeschate finds the tasks ahead exhilarating. “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.”
Ryan ten Doeschate’s plan is clear: restore India’s dominance against spin while navigating the myriad of challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Whether it’s achieving success offshore or at home, this new coaching ensemble aims to harness and elevate India’s cricketing potential. It’s a spirited undertaking, balancing past strengths with future aspirations, embodying the relentless pursuit of excellence that Indian cricket is renowned for.