Ten Doeschate Hopes to Give India a Reboot in Spin

India, for so long a powerhouse for facing quality spin, showed frailty during the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said he hoped to address the concern, indicating that the move toward handling better incursions of fast bowling might, to a point, have taken away from their ability to tackle spin.

Speaking exclusively to TalkSport Cricket, Ten Doeschate said India's resolve to conquer overseas challenges has perhaps changed the mindset. "The Indian mindset became so driven to do well overseas that the focus has moved away from what was once their strength - playing spin. We lost 27 wickets to spin in Sri Lanka which highlights a challenge I overlooked."

He's part of a reworked coaching staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir, also in his first head coaching appointment with Ten Doeschate saying the pair's job was trying to get India back to their best in facing spin bowling. "It's about situational awareness and maintaining a positive mental space. The approach won't be overly technical; it's more about reinforcing strong mental habits."

With a new coaching staff, India is steaming into a big occasion. The team, meanwhile, after riding back a World T20 League, gets ready for the two colossal competitions ahead—the World Test Championship and Champions Trophy. The road ahead is indeed exciting; it's there for all to see as shared by Ten Doeschate: "There are 10 Tests lined up, five at home, and five in Australia, which is a great opportunity."

He also mentioned the hectic schedule by citing that they had just three ODIs before the Champions Trophy. "It's going to be very difficult to prepare, but that's what we're desperate to win.

Going further down the road, the coach shared a smiling assessment regarding the prospects for the 2026 World T20 League preparation setup. He said he was feeling excited and coaching a side that currently appears well-set to possibly continue with its winning ways. "Walking into a team fresh from a World Cup victory is daunting but thrilling," he said. 

The Indian team, with plans to revive its age-old supremacy in fell forms of the game, has charted out a game plan that specifically revolves around fresh, young blood to rejuvenate its spin play.