Gambhir bats for Ryan ten Doeschate in Indian Cricket Team's support staff

Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir is reportedly set to include Ryan ten Doeschate in his support staff once he takes over the reins of the Indian cricket team. This would, though be only possible when the Indian Cricket Board agrees, which has always harped on appointing an Indian in the coaching staff.

Gambhir, who is set to become the head coach of the Indian team, wants autonomy on management of the teams and pursuing the 44-year-old former Dutch international because of their success of working together during Kolkata's championship-winning 2024 season where ten Doeschate served as the fielding coach for the team. Ten Doeschate is also in Kolkata's subsidiaries - coaching roles in the Caribbean T20 League, Major T20 League, and ILT20.

A social media viral video has Gambhir in praise for ten Doeschate. Gambhir termed ten Doeschate as the most selfless guy that he has ever met in his career and narrated an incident from 2011, how ten Doeschate used to carry drinks without complaining during a game despite being in top form.

"When I talk about selflessness, I never said this in 42 years of my career. And I want to say this. He has been the greatest team man I ever played with, the most selfless human being, someone I can take a bullet for, someone who I can trust for life," Gambhir said. "In 2011, my first game as a Kolkata captain, we only had four overseas players available. There, this man, fabulous 50-over World Series. We went in that game with three overseas players. Here, this man carrying drinks, no disappointment on his face. He taught me selflessness. Ryan ten Doeschate."

Sources close to Gambhir reveal that he prefers working with people whom he can trust blindly.

The Indian Cricket Board is currently discussing what role ten Doeschate can play. They are thinking of continuing T Dilip, who is part of Rahul Dravid's outgoing staff, as fielding coach, which will mean that ten Doeschate comes on board as assistant coach. Abhishek Nayar is going to be part of Gambhir's team and the plan was to get him on board as assistant coach rather than a specialized batting coach.

The board may have to make some adjustments in the coaching setup if it decides to bring ten Doeschate on board. The discussions are believed to be on, but a final decision has not been taken as of yet. If ten Doeschate does end up joining the Indian team, Kolkata will lose at least three members from their coaching staff that played a big role in the recent Ind T20 League triumph by them.

Venky Mysore, CEO of Kolkata, could not be reached for comment, but earlier he had told this reporter that the franchise management believes in the growth of its employees as well. Most of its past staff, including Matthew Mott, Trevor Bayliss, Brendon McCullum, and now Gambhir, have gone on to national team assignments. Even the current physio of the Indian team, Kamlesh Jain, is a former Kolkata staff member.