Ryan Ten Doeschate openly leaks out Gautam Gambhir's roadmap for team India

India's assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate said that he is well aware of the monumental task that lies ahead in a high-stakes arena, where the echoes of a recent T20 World Cup 2024 triumph still reverberate across the world.

However, the former Netherlands all-rounder said that this historic triumph is only the beginning of what promises to be an intense and exhilarating journey for both him as coach and the Indian cricket team.

After winning the ICC title after more than a decade, Team India is set to face another whirlwind of challenges and opportunities, Ten Doeschate admitted being at a crossroads where excitement and pressure collide, and he is looking forward to the mouth-watering next 18 months.

Pressure mounts as Ryan Ten Doeschate maps out India's path to more ICC glory

As India gears up for a grueling season, the assistant coach revealed that the Men in Blue are desperate to add another ICC title to their cabinet, aiming for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and booking a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final in June.

With just 10 Test matches standing between India and a potential spot in the WCT final, the road ahead is paved with challenges for the team, including the unforgiving Australian tracks.

But the Test matches are just the beginning for the Indian cricket team of their ambitions, as the Champions Trophy 2025 is also on the horizon, so the pressure to excel across formats is immense, according to Ten Doeschate.

The coach said that Team India must swiftly transition from the rigors of Test cricket to the fast-paced world of ODI cricket, and it won’t be easy at all for the players.

Joining a team that has just scaled the pinnacle of success across the format has automatically brought sky-high expectations and pressure, and the margin for error is razor-thin, but these challenges fuel Ten Doeschate's drive, saying the next 18 months promise to be a thrilling rollercoaster ride.

It's exciting and kind of daunting at the same time: Ryan Ten Doeschate

Ryan Ten Doeschate was quoted as saying by TalkSport Cricket: “It's exciting and kind of daunting at the same time. In terms of what we're looking forward to, qualifying for the WTC final that is a goal. There's a great opportunity with 10 Tests left, five in India and then going to Australia for five more which is going to be great."

"Then there's the Champions Trophy 2024. With only three ODIs left in the prep phase, it's going to be really challenging to switch between the formats and get the team ready for that, which again is something they're desperate to win,” Ryan Ten Doeschate further said.

He added, “Then in the next WTC cycle, the tour to England [summer of 2025] is going to be fantastic, and then prepping the team for the 2026 T20 World Cup."

"In terms of timing, it's quite difficult to walk into a team that's just come back with the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, but in terms of what's ahead for the next 18 months, it's mouth-watering as a coach. It's all the series you want to be involved in and all the challenges you want to come up against,” Ryan Ten Doeschate concluded.