It looks like Gautam Gambhir‘s support team may have a new member, and he’s not Indian. It has been discovered that the recently appointed head coach of India is pushing for Ryan ten Doeschate to be part of the team’s backroom staff. The BCCI, which has previously favoured solely Indian staff for the coaching staff, will now make the final selection.
Gambhir wants the 44-year-old former Dutch international as one of his collaborators and has asked for complete control over team management.
Ten Doeschate, who was the team’s fielding coach during the 2024 title run, most recently collaborated with Gambhir at the Kolkata Knight Riders. Additionally, he is employed by KKR’s affiliates in the ILT20, Major League Cricket, and Caribbean Premier League in a variety of capacities.
Recently, a social media video with Gambhir complimenting ten Doeschate went viral. The former KKR mentor can be heard declaring in the film that the Dutchman is the most selfless person he has ever met and that he would even be willing to take a bullet for him. “In my 42-year career, I have never spoken this when discussing selflessness. I also wanted to express this. The most unselfish person I have ever met, the best teammate I have ever had, someone I would take a bullet for, and someone I can always rely on.
We only had four overseas players available for our first game as KKR captain in 2011, which is why I can tell you this. And what a fantastic 50-over World Cup this man had. And there were just three foreign players when we entered that game. In that game, he was carrying drinks and didn’t seem disappointed. I learned selflessness from him. “Ryan ten Doeschate (sic),” Gambhir declares in the footage, which was taken at a KKR event previous season. According to those who know Gambhir, he usually surrounds himself with people he can fully rely on.
The topic of discussion at the moment is what role Doeschate, if given consideration, might take on. T Dilip, a member of Rahul Dravid’s departing staff, is apparently someone the BCCI wants to keep on as the fielding coach. Ten Doeschate might be added as an assistant coach in this situation. There is a problem, though: Abhishek Nayar, who will undoubtedly join Team Gambhir, is also being considered for a post as an assistant coach instead of a batting coach specifically.
If the BCCI ultimately decides to add 10 Doeschate, some changes might be required. Though a decision is still pending, Cricbuzz can attest that talks are undoubtedly in progress. At least three members of KKR’s coaching staff that assisted in its IPL victory this year will be absent if Ten Doeschate does decide to join the Indian squad.
Also Read: Reports: Gautam Gambhir will shortly have a meeting with the selectors
The CEO, Venky Mysore, could not be reached for confirmation. But he’s said before that professional advancement is never hampered by franchise management. Many former KKR players, including Trevor Bayliss, Matthew Mott, Brendon McCullum, and now Gambhir, have gone on to play for national teams. Even Kamlesh Jain, the Indian team’s current physiotherapist, used to work for KKR.
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