Ryan ten Doeschate steps down as India assistant coach ahead of Sri Lanka Test series
New Delhi: Ryan ten Doeschate has ended his stint as India’s men’s assistant coach after spending two years with the national team. The former Netherlands all-rounder informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision during India’s recent white-ball tour of England, bringing his time with the side to a close.
His departure comes just weeks before India begin their three-match Test series against Sri Lanka on 15 August. The BCCI had offered Ten Doeschate a contract extension until 2027 after being pleased with his work but he decided not to continue.
The 45-year-old is understood to have stepped away for personal reasons. With a young family, he chose to move on from the demands of international cricket and the constant travel that comes with the role.
Coaching staff set for changes
India’s coaching group is also seeing another change, with fielding coach T Dilip leaving after his contract came to an end. As a result, he will not be part of the squad travelling to Sri Lanka for the upcoming Test series.
The BCCI is now expected to finalise head coach Gautam Gambhir’s support staff before the team leaves for the tour. Ten Doeschate had joined India’s coaching setup in July 2024 after Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid following India’s T20 World Cup triumph.
Having already worked together at Kolkata Knight Riders, Gambhir brought Ten Doeschate into the national team alongside bowling coach Morne Morkel. During his time with India, Ten Doeschate played a key role in batting preparation, fielding sessions and tactical planning, despite not holding a specialist coaching title.
India enjoyed success in white-ball cricket during his tenure, winning the 2025 Asia Cup and defending the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026. However, the Test side faced a difficult period including losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and series defeats against New Zealand and South Africa.
Why Ten Doeschate chose to leave
According to an earlier PTI report, Ten Doeschate was unhappy with the lack of clarity around his role in the Indian coaching setup. He had reportedly accepted the position with the expectation of eventually becoming the team’s specialist fielding coach.
However, T Dilip continued in that role after receiving a contract extension, leaving Ten Doeschate as an all-round assistant without a clearly defined responsibility. While the BCCI wanted him to stay, he decided the England tour would be the right time to step away.
The former cricketer is now expected to return to Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. He previously enjoyed a successful spell with the franchise as both a player and coach and could once again reunite with familiar faces in the KKR setup. Meanwhile, the BCCI is expected to complete India’s coaching staff before the Sri Lanka Test series gets underway.