New Assistant Coach Joins Team India Ahead of 1st T20I Against Sri Lanka

As India gears up for the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, a new member has joined the support staff: Ryan ten Doeschate. The former Netherlands cricketer and new assistant coach was spotted in Team India’s training gear, marking his official start with the team. Ten Doeschate joins Abhishek Nayar as one of the two assistant coaches under new head coach Gautam Gambhir. This appointment is notable as it marks the first instance of India having two assistant coaches in its setup.

The arrival of ten Doeschate follows a significant coaching overhaul, with Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach concluding last month. Previous batting and bowling coaches, Vikram Rathour and Paras Mhambrey, saw their contracts expire, leaving only fielding coach T Dilip from the previous staff.

Gambhir expressed his satisfaction with the BCCI’s approval of his coaching team. “It’s exciting to have Ryan and Abhishek on board. I’ve worked closely with them and value their professionalism,” Gambhir stated. He also hinted at a potential addition of Morne Morkel as a bowling coach in the future.

The final coaching structure will be confirmed after the Sri Lanka tour, with Gambhir confident that this new setup will drive success for the Indian team.