The Indian team’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has asked to include the former Netherlands cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate as a part of Team India’s coaching staff.
Gambhir wants Ryan Ten Doeschate in India’s coaching Setup
After a week of Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as India’s new Head coach, it has been reported that Gautam Gambhir is advocating the inclusion of Ryan ten Doeschate in the backroom staff who was one of Gambhir’s assistants during his role as Mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders during the team’s triumph in the 2024 season of IPL.
Doeschate was Kolkata’s fielding coach and also part of the teams that the franchise owns in the Caribbean Premier League and Major League Cricket. He has always been openly backed by Gambhir who is committed to the team’s objectives. But the final decision rests in the hands of BCCI.
Gambhir’s video praising Doeschate in circulation on social media has gone viral. Gambhir is seen stating that the Dutchman is a selfless human being he has seen.
“When I talk about selflessness, I have never said this in 42 years of my career. And I wanted to say this. The greatest team man I ever played with, the most selfless human being, someone I can take a bullet for, someone who I can trust for life.
“I can tell you this because in 2011, my first game as a KKR captain, we only had four overseas (players) available. And this man had a fabulous 50-over World Cup. And we went to that game with only three overseas players. He was carrying drinks in that game with no disappointment on his face. He taught me selflessness. Ryan ten Doeschate (sic),” Gambhir said in the video.
The BCCI reportedly wants to retain T Dilip, a member of Rahul Dravid’s outgoing staff as the fielding coach. If this is the scenario, Doeschate may be brought in as an assistant coach. But there is another talk, Abhishek Nayar is certain to join team Gambhir and is also being considered for a similar assistant coach role rather than a specialized batting coach role.
BCCI has to make some adjustments in the support staff if Doeschate is set to join Team India. If he joins the Indian side, the KKR will be left without three members of its coaching team who helped KKR win their third title.
Venky Mysore, the CEO of the franchise has previously stated that the management will not stop an individual’s career growth. Big names like Matthew Mott, Trevor Bayliss, and Brendon McCullum have gone to work for national teams after their tenure at KKR. Even Kamlesh Jain, the Physio of the Indian team, is a former KKR staff member.
Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid as India’s head coach last week after his tenure ended with the T20 World Cup, which India won to end their 11-year wait for an ICC Trophy.
