Ryan ten Doeschate exits India coaching role, set to rejoin KKR
Synopsis
Ryan ten Doeschate's exit from India's coaching staff closes a two-year chapter that included a T20 World Cup defence and an Asia Cup triumph — but also painful Test defeats. His return to KKR reunites a coaching trio that delivered an IPL title in 2024, and raises questions about who fills the gap in Gambhir's support structure.
Key Takeaways
Ryan ten Doeschate has stepped down as India's assistant coach after the white-ball tour of England in July 2026 .
He reportedly informed the BCCI of his decision while the team was still in the United Kingdom .
His contract with the BCCI ran from approximately July 2024 to mid-July 2026 .
Under his tenure, India won the 2025 Asia Cup and defended the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2026 .
India also suffered a 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand and a 2-0 defeat to South Africa in Tests.
Ten Doeschate is expected to rejoin KKR , where he won IPL titles in 2012, 2014, and 2024 across playing and coaching roles.
Ryan ten Doeschate has stepped down as assistant coach of the Indian cricket team following the conclusion of the white-ball tour of England, ending a two-year association with the national setup. The former Netherlands captain is now expected to return to Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a coaching capacity, according to reports.
How the Exit Unfolded
Ten Doeschate reportedly informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision while the team was still in the United Kingdom, shortly after India suffered defeats in both the T20I and ODI series against England. His departure coincides with the natural conclusion of his initial contract, which is understood to have run from around July 2024 to mid-July 2026.
Role Within the Indian Setup
Ten Doeschate joined the Indian support staff after Gautam Gambhir succeeded Rahul Dravid as head coach following India's victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. Regarded as one of Gambhir's trusted lieutenants, the former all-rounder contributed across batting and fielding units. During his tenure, India lifted the 2025 Asia Cup and successfully defended the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2026.
Difficult Stretch in Test Cricket
The white-ball highs were offset by a turbulent period in the longest format. India relinquished the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on their tour of Australia and suffered successive home series defeats — a 3-0 loss to New Zealand and a 2-0 defeat against South Africa — as the team navigated a generational transition in Test cricket.
A Return to Familiar Ground at KKR
Ten Doeschate's ties with Kolkata Knight Riders span more than a decade. As a player, he was part of the KKR squads that won IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. He later returned as fielding coach in 2022, remaining with the franchise through a championship-winning campaign in 2024 under head coach Chandrakant Pandit and mentor Gautam Gambhir. His expected return will also reunite him with Abhishek Nayar, with whom he previously served as assistant coach at KKR before both briefly joined India's national coaching staff.
What Comes Next
With ten Doeschate's exit, the BCCI will need to assess its support staff composition ahead of the next cycle of international assignments. His departure is the latest in a series of coaching transitions as Indian cricket recalibrates across formats.
Point of View
Immediately after back-to-back series defeats in England, sharpens the optics. The bigger question is what it signals about Gambhir's evolving support structure: the coach has now seen multiple trusted allies cycle through the national setup and back to IPL franchises. India's white-ball record under this staff was strong, but the Test collapse — losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and conceding home series to New Zealand and South Africa — leaves unresolved accountability. The BCCI's next appointment will be a signal of whether the focus shifts to shoring up Test infrastructure or doubling down on the T20 template.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ryan ten Doeschate leave India's coaching staff?
Ryan ten Doeschate stepped down as India's assistant coach after his initial BCCI contract concluded in mid-July 2026, following the white-ball tour of England. He reportedly informed the BCCI of his decision while the team was still in the United Kingdom.
Where is Ryan ten Doeschate going after leaving the India job?
Ten Doeschate is expected to rejoin Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a coaching role, according to reports. He has a long association with the franchise as both a player and coach, having been part of IPL title-winning campaigns in 2012, 2014, and 2024.
What did India achieve under ten Doeschate's tenure as assistant coach?
India won the 2025 Asia Cup and successfully defended the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2026 during his two-year stint. However, the Test side struggled, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and suffering home series defeats to New Zealand (3-0) and South Africa (2-0).
Who is Abhishek Nayar and how is he connected to ten Doeschate?
Abhishek Nayar is a former Indian cricketer who served alongside ten Doeschate as an assistant coach at both KKR and in India's national coaching setup under Gautam Gambhir. Ten Doeschate's return to KKR is expected to reunite the two.
When did Ryan ten Doeschate first join India's coaching staff?
Ten Doeschate joined the Indian support staff around July 2024, after Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach following India's 2024 T20 World Cup victory. He served until mid-July 2026, completing his initial contract term.
