Ryan ten Doeschate Highlights Shift in India’s Spin Game Focus

Ryan ten Doeschate, the newly appointed assistant coach of the Indian cricket team, has expressed concerns regarding a shift in the team’s mindset that has adversely affected their performance against spin bowling. Historically known for their proficiency in playing spin, India‘s recent struggles in this area became evident during the ODI series against Sri Lanka, where they lost 27 wickets to spin.

In an interview with TalkSport Cricket, ten Doeschate remarked, “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.” He emphasized that while the team has aimed to excel in conditions like Australia and England, they have unintentionally neglected their traditional strength against spin.

Addressing the Challenges

Ten Doeschate acknowledged that the Indian team was “undone in Sri Lanka,” indicating that the players’ focus on overseas success has led to a decline in their ability to handle spin effectively. “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,” he noted. His goal is to help the team regain its status as the best players of spin in the world.

As part of the coaching staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir, ten Doeschate will work alongside Morne Morkel and Abhishek Nayar to address the batting issues that have arisen. He believes that the remedial work will not be overly technical but will focus on mindset and situational awareness. “It’s more about mindsets, situational awareness, how we think they can control certain phases of the game,” he explained.

What Lies Ahead for Indian Cricket? 

The timing of ten Doeschate’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Indian cricket. The team has just been crowned T20 World Champions and now has significant targets on the horizon, including the World Test Championship (WTC) and the Champions Trophy. Ten Doeschate expressed excitement about the upcoming challenges, stating, “It’s exciting and kind of daunting at the same time.”

With ten Tests remaining, including five at home and five in Australia, the Indian team has a great opportunity to qualify for the WTC final. Additionally, the Champions Trophy looms on the horizon, with only three ODIs left in the preparation 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,” he noted.

As ten Doeschate embarks on this new coaching journey, he is keenly aware of the challenges ahead. The tour to England in 2025 and the preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup are also on the agenda. “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,” he concluded.

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