There’s a potential surprising addition to Gautam Gambhir’s support staff, and he may not be Indian.
Sources indicate that the new India head coach is advocating for Ryan ten Doeschate to join the team’s backroom staff.
The decision now rests with the BCCI, which has typically favored Indian personnel for coaching roles.
Gambhir, who seeks autonomy in managing the team, strongly supports the inclusion of the 44-year-old former Dutch international.
Ten Doeschate recently served as the fielding coach at Kolkata Knight Riders, contributing to their championship win in 2024.
He also holds roles with KKR’s affiliates in the Caribbean Premier League, Major League Cricket, and ILT20.
A viral video of Gambhir praising ten Doeschate has circulated on social media, emphasizing the Dutchman’s selflessness and their strong bond.
Gambhir recounts an incident from 2011 when ten Doeschate, despite being a key player, willingly accepted a non-playing role to support the team—a moment that taught Gambhir the value of selflessness.
The discussion now centers on ten Doeschate’s potential role within the Indian setup.
While the BCCI intends to retain T Dilip as the fielding coach, a position held in Rahul Dravid’s outgoing staff, ten Doeschate might be considered for an assistant coaching role.
However, complications arise as Abhishek Nayar, set to join Team Gambhir, is also being considered for a similar assistant coach position rather than a specialized batting coach role.
Should ten Doeschate join the Indian team, adjustments within KKR’s coaching team are inevitable, potentially leaving the franchise short of key personnel crucial to their recent IPL success.
Discussions are ongoing, and while a decision has not been finalized, it’s confirmed that talks are progressing.
Venky Mysore, the CEO of KKR, was unavailable for comment, but he has previously supported the career growth of individuals from KKR to national teams, citing examples like Matthew Mott, Trevor Bayliss, Brendon McCullum, and Kamlesh Jain, the current physio of the Indian team, who all started at KKR before moving to higher roles.
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