India’s newly appointed head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has confirmed the appointment of all-rounders Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches ahead of the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. This announcement marks a reunion for the coaching trio, who recently collaborated to lead the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL 2024 title. Their first assignment with the national team will commence on July 27, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is against Sri Lanka. The coaching staff includes members retained from Rahul Dravid’s tenure, such as T Dilip, who will continue as the fielding coach. Dilip has gained a reputation as an effective fielding coach and a positive influence in the dressing room. He is known for his team bonding exercises, which are crucial in a highly competitive environment. Additionally, Sairaj Bahutule, associated with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, will serve as the interim bowling coach for the six-match white-ball series in the island nation.
“This is going to be the crux of the support staff. As I said, we still have one month after the Sri Lanka tour. We will try and finalise after the Sri Lanka tour. But, I have worked with people like Abhishek Nayar, Ryan Ten Doeschate very closely. In the last two months, especially in the IPL, I have enjoyed working with them. They are thorough professionals. Hope Ryan and Abhishek can have a successful stint. Hopefully, we can have a successful tenure as coaches. I am really looking forward to work with the rest of the other guys as well. I have had some really good feedback from the players about the other guys. I am really looking forward to working with them. My experience and learning have been been very simple,” Gambhir stated during a media briefing ahead of the tour.
“In sport, it’s all about winning. We don’t deviate from that. We try and play fair and we try and play hard. In sport, there can be only one winner. More importantly, we try and come back to a winning and happy dressing room. A happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. I don’t like to complicate things. That’s the sort of profession that I am in. Ultimately, it’s the players’ team. The support staff is there to try and help the players, try and get the best of them, and maximise their potential. We are there to give them freedom and make them express the way they want to and make them happy. Sometimes, international cricket can be tough. Only 15 can play, but the job of the support staff is to try and keep the players in a happy space. That’s something my team will be working towards, going forward. Eventually going forward, these things happen.
“Really happy with the BCCI. They have agreed to most of the things I have asked for. I am really surprised when I was reading all those news. Abhishek, as assistant coach, Ryan, as assistant coach. I personally feel there could be assistant coaches wrokiong and focussing on all three departments than one specific department. That’s the reason we now have two assistant coaches. That’s the way we will go forward as well. Yes, we will get to know the exact support staff after the Sri Lanka tour,” Gambhir added.
Nayar, 40, has a distinguished cricketing background, having played three ODIs for India and securing multiple Ranji Trophy titles with Mumbai during a first-class career spanning over 100 matches. He has been instrumental in mentoring players like Dinesh Karthik, helping him stage an international comeback. Nayar’s coaching credentials include leading the Trinbago Knight Riders to success in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and conducting coaching clinics focusing on mental toughness and growth mindset for Mumbai’s domestic team.
Ten Doeschate, on the other hand, brings a wealth of international experience, having represented the Netherlands and currently serving as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the USA’s Major League Cricket. He also has experience as a batting coach at Kent. This new coaching setup, led by Gambhir, is anticipated to bring fresh insights and strategies to the Indian cricket team as they embark on their tour of Sri Lanka, aiming to build on their recent successes and develop a strong foundation for the future.
