There might be an unexpected addition to Gautam Gambhir's support team, and this new member could be from outside India. Reports indicate that the new head coach of India is pushing for Ryan ten Doeschate to join the backroom staff. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has recently favoured only Indian staff, now faces the decision.
Gambhir, seeking autonomy in team management, is advocating for the 44-year-old former Dutch international. Ten Doeschate has previously collaborated with Gambhir at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), serving as the fielding coach during their 2024 championship season. He also holds roles with KKR's affiliates in the Caribbean Premier League, Major League Cricket, and ILT20.
A viral video featuring Gambhir lauding ten Doeschate has been circulating on social media. In the video, Gambhir expresses that ten Doeschate is the most selfless person he has ever met, someone he would trust implicitly and even take a bullet for. Gambhir recounts an instance from 2011 when ten Doeschate, despite having an excellent 50-over World Cup, carried drinks without any sign of disappointment, exemplifying selflessness.
The primary discussion now is about the role ten Doeschate would assume if appointed. The BCCI reportedly aims to retain T Dilip, a current member of Rahul Dravid's staff, as the fielding coach. Consequently, ten Doeschate might be positioned as an assistant coach. However, this creates a potential conflict as Abhishek Nayar, another likely addition to Gambhir's team, is also being considered for an assistant coach role.
If the BCCI decides to include ten Doeschate, some adjustments will be necessary. Though no final decision has been made, discussions are ongoing. Should ten Doeschate join, KKR will lose at least three key members of its coaching staff who contributed to their recent IPL victory.
Venky Mysore, KKR's CEO, was unavailable for comment. However, he has previously mentioned that the franchise supports its staff's career advancements. Many former KKR staff members, including Matthew Mott, Trevor Bayliss, and Brendon McCullum, have gone on to work with national teams. Even the current physio for the Indian team, Kamlesh Jain, is a former KKR staff member.