Ahead of the first T20I against Sri Lanka, India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has joined the team in Pallekele on Thursday. In a viral social media picture, the former Netherlands batter was seen wearing Team India’s training gear. Ten Doeschate is one of the two assistant coaches, the other being Abhishek Nayar, in new India head coach Gautam Gambhir‘s support staff. For the record, it’s the first time the Indian cricket setup is seeing two assistant coaches. Rahul Dravid‘s tenure as head coach ended last month, while the contracts of batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling Paras Mhambrey were not extended either.

Only fielding coach T Dilip was retained from the previous regime. Meanwhile, there are no mentions of a batting or bowling coach in Gambhir’s support staff, with the former KKR mentor opting for two assistant coaches instead.

On Thursday, Team India took part in a training session, with ten Doeschate being a part of it.

India’s New Assistant Coach Ryan ten Doeschate Has Joined the Squad ahead of the Sri Lanka Series #INDvsSL #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/jTjcvnBLvx

— (@Faizanali_152) July 26, 2024

Earlier this week, Gambhir confirmed the names of two assistant coaches that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved. 

Though the complete list of coaches will be confirmed only after the Sri Lanka tour, Gambhir is happy to see the board agreeing to most of his demands as the head coach of the Indian team. During the media briefing, Gambhir revealed that his former Kolkata Knight Riders mates, Ryan Ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar have joined him as assistant coaches.

“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 said.

Ever since Gambhir’s appointment was made official, Morne Morkel has emerged as a potential candidate to take over as bowling coach.

After months of specualtion, Gautam Gambhir‘s appointment as head coach of the Indian team was made official earlier this month by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Gambhir, who replaced Rahul Dravid at the helm, is already in Sri Lanka with the Indian team for the upcoming white-ball tour. Gambhir was one of the two candidates interviewed for the role by BCCI’s COC, following his successful stint as mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The likes of Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Mahela Jayawardene, and Stephen Fleming, were also reportedly in the race.

However, the BCCI’s priority was always an Indian. While Gambhir’s appointment was made official on July 9, after Rahul Dravid’s contract came to an end, former India pacer Ashish Nehra was also floating in the media.

During a recent interaction, Nehra has opened up about why he didn’t apply. The 45-year-old insisted that his children are young, and he was not in the mood to travel for nine months.

“Meri abhi kabhi us tareh soch nahi gayi hai. My kids are young. GG ke bacche bhi abhi young hai par sabki soch alag alag hoti hai, toh I am very happy where I am. I am not in the mood to travel for nine months (I never thought about it. My children are still young. Gautam Gambhir also has young children, but everyone has different ideas. That’s why I am happy where I am. I am not in the mood to travel for nine months),” Nehra told Sports Today.

Meanwhile, Gambhir also confirmed the names of two assistant coaches that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved. 

Though the complete list of coaches will be confirmed only after the Sri Lanka tour, Gambhir is happy to see the board agreeing to most of his demands as the head coach of the Indian team. 

During a media briefing, Gambhir revealed that his former Kolkata Knight Riders mates, Ryan Ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar have joined him as assistant coaches.

“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 said.

Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar in press conference© X (Twitter)

Team India is all set to face Sri Lanka in a white-ball series, which will kick start from July 27. The series consists of three T20Is, followed as many ODIs, starting from August 2. In the T20Is, Team India will be led by batter Suryakumar Yadav, who has been appointed as the captain after the retirement of Rohit Sharma from the shortest format. This came as a surprise for many fans as all-rounder Hardik Pandya was expected to don the leader’s cap. However on Monday, India’s T20I squad left for Sri Lanka and heartfelt scenes were captured from the airport. At the airport, Hardik was seen a joyful mood as he hugged India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar.

#WATCH | Mumbai | Indian Men’s Cricket Team arrives at the Airport, they’ll leave for Sri Lanka, shortly.

Indian Cricket Team will play the ODI and T20I series, 3 matches each, against Sri Lanka, starting on July 27 and ending on August 7. pic.twitter.com/ZmBmBqLasH

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2024

Hardik was replaced by Shubman Gill as the vice-captain of Team India for the Sri Lanka tour. Apart from cricket, the all-rounder is also going through a rough patch in his personal life as he got separated from his wife Natasa Stankovic.

Regarding Hardik, chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that Surya was chosen over him as the selection committee is concerned about his fitness.

“He’s still a very important player for us. Fitness has obviously been a challenge for him… Then it becomes difficult for the coach or selectors. Fitness is a clear challenge and we want someone who is available more often than not. Having said that, we believe Surya has the qualities necessary to be a captain,” said Agarkar during a press conference.

“We also feel we can manage Hardik better, we’ve seen what he can do with the bat and ball in the World Cup… We speak to every player, whether their role has changed. And yeah we’ve spoken to him,” he added.

This series will also mark former India batter Gautam Gambhir‘s first assignment as the head coach. He will be having the support of his Kolkata Knight Riders support staff Nayar and Ryan Ten Doeschate.

“I have worked closely with Abhishek and Ryan in the last two months at IPL with KKR. Both are absolute professionals and hopefully they will have a successful stint with the Indian team as coaches,” said Gambhir.

New India head coach Gautam Gambhir has firmly denied reports and rumours that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rejected his requests for coaching staff personnel. Instead, Gambhir expressed that his requests to the BCCI were largely accepted. Gambhir also announced the names of two people who are set to join his support staff – Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate. Gambhir’s first series as India head coach begins on Saturday, July 27, as India tours Sri Lanka for 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs.

Appearing at a press conference for the first time since being appointed as Team India head coach, Gambhir refuted claims that the BCCI had not agreed to his requests.

“Really happy with the BCCI. They have agreed to most of the things I’ve asked for. I was surprised to read all those news (about BCCI rejecting his demands),” said Gambhir in the press-conference.

“The crux of the support staff will remain the same,” he confirmed. Gambhir stated that T Dilip, the fielding coach during Rahul Dravid‘s tenure, will continue in his role.

“Abhishek Nayar as assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coach,” confirmed Gambhir. “I feel there could be assistant coaches working and focusing on all three departments rather than one specific department. That’s the reason we now have two assistant coaches. That’s the way we will go forward as well,” added Gambhir.

Nayar and ten Doeschate are two men Gambhir worked in close quarters with during IPL 2024, as Kolkata Knight Riders won a third IPL title. Nayar was the assistant coach of KKR, while ten Doeschate was their fielding coach.

Gambhir confirmed that Nayar, T Dilip and former India leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule are travelling with the India squad to Sri Lanka, while ten Doeschate will join the team directly in Colombo.

Gambhir stated that the entire support staff will be finalised after the Sri Lanka tour.

“We still have one month after the Sri Lanka tour, and we can finalise after the tour. Importantly, I’ve worked with Ryan and Abhishek closely during the IPL. I enjoyed working with them, they are thorough professionals, and there can’t be a bigger and better opportunity now,” said Gambhir.

South African pacer Morne Morkel has been reported to be requested by Gambhir to also join the coaching staff.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are all set to appoint Abhishek Nayar and Ryan Ten Doeschate as assistant coaches of the Indian cricket team, according to a report by Cricbuzz. While no official statement has been issued by the team management, the report claims that both Nayar and Ten Doeschate will join new head coach Gautam Gambhir for the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka. Nayar was the assistant coach for Kolkata Knight Riders while the former Dutch international also served as KKR’s fielding coach when Gambhir served as mentor. T Dilip, who served as fielding coach under Rahul Dravid, is reportedly going to be retained in the new support staff as well.

However, questions still remain over the appointment of the bowling coach but former South Africa cricket team fast bowler Morne Morkel is being considered a strong candidate for the position.

Morkel has also worked with Gambhir as part of the Kolkata Knight Riders team. Morkel played for the franchise between 2014 and 2016 under Gambhir’s captaincy and even won the title in 2014.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) remains in the hunt for new support staff after appointing Gautam Gambhir as the senior men’s team’s new head coach. Gambhir himself has also been quite keen to wrap up the search for his coaching staff soon, though his suggestions for different roles in the team haven’t reportedly been well received by the board. Gambhir had suggested the names of R Vinay Kumar, Morne Morkel, Abhishek Nayar, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Jonty Rhodes, and Laxmipathy Balaji for different roles, but the board seems to be in agreement on only one of these players.

As per a report in the Economic Times, the BCCI has rejected all of Gambhir’s suggestions, barring Abhishek Nayar, who works as Kolkata Knight Riders’ assistant coach at present. Though no formal announcement has taken place, the BCCI is reportedly in agreement with Gambhir’s request to add him as coaching staff.

But, the bowling and fielding coach’s spots remain wide open, with the board not keen to appoint Morkel, Vinay Kumar Balaji, Rhodes, or Ten Doeschate to these roles. In the past, the BCCI has given a free hand to Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid to select their coaching staff. But, the same doesn’t seem to be true for Gambhir.

The BCCI reportedly wants Zaheer Khan as the next bowling coach of the Indian team. Zaheer, one of the finest pacers to have played the game, picked up 311 Test wickets in 92 matches and overall 610 scalps in 309 international matches across all formats for India. He is considered one of the greatest left-arm pacers to have played the sport.

Balaji’s name was reportedly also discussed. He represented Team India in eight Test matches where he has managed to snap 27 wickets at an average of 37.18. On the other hand, he bagged 34 wickets in 30 ODIs at an average of 39.52.

The term of Paras Mahambrey, who was the bowling coach of team India when Rahul Dravid was the head coach, has come to an end. As for the fielding coach, it has also been reported that T Dilip’s tenure could be extended.

File photo of Gautam Gambhir© AFP

The limelight may be on Gautam Gambhir and Shah Rukh Khan as Kolkata Knight Riders win their third IPL title, defeating the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sunil Narine and Andre Russell are being hailed, as expected. Mitchell Starc has come good on the big occasion. Chandrakant Pandit becomes the first man to win the IPL and the Ranji Trophy as a head coach. But as KKR celebrated on Sunday night, some players made sure that one unsung hero also received due credit. The man in question? Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar.

While being interviewed by Harsha Bhogle after KKR won the 2024 IPL Final, Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer spoke highly about the role played by Abhishek Nayar in orchestrating their success.

“All I can think of right now is the person who built this Indian core. The main guy behind this is Abhishek Nayar,” said Chakravarthy.

And what an Indian core it has been. Chakravarthy picked up 21 wickets. Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora got 19 and 11 wickets, respectively. Venkatesh Iyer scored 370 runs. Teenage talent Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored fifty on debut. Ramandeep Singh was a revelation lower down the order, adding vital runs and impressing on the field.

Venkatesh Iyer, who scored a 26-ball 52 in the IPL Final, added to the praise. “Abhishek Nayar deserves all the credit in the world. Some of his contributions go unnoticed, I want to make sure it doesn’t,” he said. Iyer was retained by KKR before the previous mega auction, in favour of Shubman Gill, a symbol of the faith shown by Nayar.

Abhishek Nayar has also played a significant role in developing the young Indian core that KKR has banked on. Apart from being the assistant coach, he has also been the mentor and head coach of the KKR Academy. One such starlet he’s seen rise is 18-year-old Angkrish Raghuvanshi. His father Avneesh thanked Nayar on Instagram.

“Dear Abhishek Nayar sir. Your first words to us were “I want to make Angkrish a good human and then a cricketer”… seems like a plan on track,” he wrote.

While Gambhir and the rest of the star-studded KKR backroom gets richly-deserved credit, the players have made sure that even unsung heroes like Nayar get their flowers.

IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar having an intense chat© Twitter