Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate joins team India in Sri Lanka

India’s new assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate joined the team on July 25 in Pallekele. Suryakumar Yadav-led side reached Sri Lanka on July 23 and has already started practising for the three-match T20I series that is slated to begin on July 27. Gautam Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar, T Dilip and Sairaj Bahutule were named as part of the new coaching staff.

As things stand, Bahutule joined the team on a temporary basis and is expected to be replaced by Morne Morkel. The former South Africa international is currently in Pretoria to check on his ill father and is likely to join the national team before the series against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, ten Doeschate joined the team with his vast experience and was one of Gambhir’s recommendations for the role.

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He along with Nayar has been named as an assistant coach as Gambhir didn’t want them to hold any particular position and to give them the freedom to work independently with every player. Both Nayar and Ten Doeschate played a vital role in helping Kolkata Knight Riders win the Indian Premier League in 2024 and will be hoping to bring the same success to the Indian team.

Meanwhile, the chief selector recently explained the reason behind appointing Suryakumar Yadav as captain of the T20I team. Hardik Pandya, the other favourite, is very injury-prone, which played a part in the selection committee finalising on Suryakumar. The Mumbai-born cricketer has played under Gambhir previously, and the latter also appointed Suryakumar as vice-captain during his stint in KKR.

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After the T20I series, India will also play a three-match ODI series, starting August 2. Senior cricketers Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul will join the squad as India aim to build a strong core for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Jasprit Bumrah was given a break from the series as selectors and the head coach wants to give him a repose, especially with 10 Test matches scheduled later in the Indian team's season calendar.