Gautam Gambhir Suffers Coaching Blow? Trusted Aide Ryan ten Doeschate Quits Team India, Set for KKR Return

Team India’s coaching setup is reportedly set for a significant change, with assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate stepping away from the national team after the completion of his contract.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the former Netherlands all-rounder informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision during India’s tour of the United Kingdom, where the Men in Blue suffered T20I and ODI series defeats against England. He is now expected to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) by rejoining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a coaching role.

Contract reportedly ends after two years

The report states that ten Doeschate’s initial contract with the BCCI concluded earlier this month, bringing an end to a tenure that began around July 2024 following Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as India’s head coach after the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Although there has been no official statement from either the BCCI or the coach, the reported exit has sparked discussions about changes within India’s support staff following recent mixed results.

A key member of Gambhir’s coaching team

Ten Doeschate was regarded as one of Gambhir’s most trusted assistants and played an important role across multiple departments, including batting and fielding.

During his stint with the national team, India enjoyed considerable success in white-ball cricket.

The team won the 2025 Asia Cup before successfully defending the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2026, further strengthening India’s dominance in the shortest format.

Test struggles overshadowed white-ball success

Despite success in limited-overs cricket, India’s Test team endured a challenging period during the same phase.

The side lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia before suffering back-to-back home Test series defeats, including a 3-0 loss to New Zealand and a 2-0 defeat against South Africa, as the team underwent a transition in the longest format.

While there is no official indication that the recent results influenced ten Doeschate’s decision, his departure comes at a time when India’s coaching setup is under increased scrutiny.

Return to familiar surroundings at KKR

The move will mark a homecoming for ten Doeschate, who shares a long association with Kolkata Knight Riders.

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As a player, he was part of KKR’s IPL-winning squads in 2012 and 2014. He later returned to the franchise as its fielding coach in 2022, remaining with the support staff until 2024, when KKR lifted another IPL title under head coach Chandrakant Pandit with Gautam Gambhir serving as mentor.

His return is also expected to reunite him with Abhishek Nayar, with whom he previously worked both at KKR and during Gambhir’s coaching tenure with Team India.

What next for Team India’s support staff?

With India’s international calendar becoming increasingly demanding, attention will now turn to who fills the vacancy in the support staff.

Neither the BCCI nor Gautam Gambhir has officially commented on the reported development, but any replacement will have the responsibility of helping India prepare for a packed schedule across all three formats.

If confirmed, Ryan ten Doeschate’s departure will mark the end of a successful yet eventful two-year stint that included major ICC silverware and a return to one of the IPL’s most successful franchises.