India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has pointed out a potentially detrimental shift in the team’s batting focus, which may have inadvertently harmed their historically lauded ability to play against spin. Once revered for their adeptness at handling spin bowlers, the Indian team now finds itself grappling with this previously uncharacteristic vulnerability, a predicament ten Doeschate is determined to rectify.
This concern came to light after a full-strength Indian side was notably derailed by spin, losing a staggering 27 wickets to it during their recent ODI series against Sri Lanka. “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 remarked in an interview with TalkSport Cricket. “I guess one of the challenges that I wasn’t expecting and kind of overlooked is the playing of spin.”
The Dutchman elucidated that the modern Indian cricketer’s concentration has veered towards excelling in fast-paced pitches encountered in countries like Australia and England. “I think the focus has shifted to doing well in Australia and doing well in England. Consequently, we’ve kind of let playing spin, which has always been the strength of the Indian team, fall back a little bit,” he added. “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.”
Ten Doeschate is set to embark on this mission as one of three assistant coaches under the new head coach Gautam Gambhir. While former South African pacer Morne Morkel is anticipated to significantly enhance the bowling segment, the responsibility of addressing the batting issues will be shoulders by both Abhishek Nayar and ten Doeschate. However, ten Doeschate emphasized that their approach would be less about intricate technical adjustments and more about strategic and mental development.
“I don’t think much of what we’re going to bring is technical knowledge to these guys,” he 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 maintaining a healthy mental space. That’s going to be really important.
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The newly formed coaching team takes charge during a critical phase in India’s cricketing itinerary. Having recently secured the T20 World Cup title, India has its eyes set on several marquee events like the World Test Championship (WTC) and the Champions Trophy. The challenge, as ten Doeschate sees it, lies not just in maintaining the momentum but also in addressing specific team weaknesses amidst this whirlwind of high-stakes competitions.
“It’s exciting and daunting at the same time,” he acknowledged. “Qualifying for the WTC final is a big goal. With 10 Test matches on the horizon — five in India over the next few months and then five more in Australia at the end of 2024 — it’s a fantastic opportunity.”
“In the medium term, there’s the Champions Trophy coming up. With only three One Day Internationals left in the preparation phase, switching between formats and getting the team ready for it will be a significant challenge. That’s a trophy they are desperate to win,” he stated.
Further down the road, ten Doeschate is also looking forward to other key assignments. “Then in the next [WTC] cycle, the tour to England during the summer of 2025 will be another crucial series. Prepping the team for the 2026 T20 World Cup is yet another objective. The timing is tricky, especially entering a team that’s just claimed the World Cup, but the calendar for the next 18 months is really mouth-watering as a coach. These are all the series you want to be involved in, facing the challenges you aspire to meet.”
As the new assistant coach, ten Doeschate’s insights into the nuances of India’s game could be the catalyst needed to reclaim their dominance against spin. His approach, blending mental resilience with situational awareness, aims to resurrect India’s batting prowess and continues to build on the strengths that have historically made them formidable foes on turning tracks.