Ryan ten Doeschate to join India's coaching staff? Gautam Gambhir's unique demand pushes BCCI on the backfoot

In recent developments, newly appointed Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed interest in including the former Netherlands all-rounder in his coaching staff. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been preferring only Indian personnel in the coaching crew.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India named Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach of the senior men's team on Tuesday, July 9. Gambhir will replace Rahul Dravid, whose tenure ended after India's victory in the recent T20 World Cup 2024. Dravid Dravid took charge of the Indian team in November 2021.

The Indian cricket team maintained its dominance across all formats during Dravid's coaching tenure. The Men in Blue reached the finals of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) and the ODI World Cup last year but lost to Australia. The team advanced to the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.

Gambhir was instrumental in India's victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. The former left-handed batter top-scored for the Indian team in both finals. Gambhir played 242 matches across all formats for India. The 42-year-old scored 10,324 runs, including 20 centuries and 63 fifties.

Gautam Gambhir Advocates Ryan ten Doeschate's Inclusion

According to a Cricbuzz report, Gautam Gambhir is pushing for the inclusion of Ryan ten Doeschate in the coaching staff. The decision is pending approval from the BCCI. Gambhir, who has sought a free hand in team management, worked with Ryan ten Doeschate for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL.

In a viral video, Gambhir praised Ryan ten Doeschate, describing him as the most selfless person he has ever known. Gambhir said that he would be willing to take a bullet for ten Doeschate. He revealed that ten Doeschate carried drinks without showing any disappointment after missing the playing XI.

"When I talk about selflessness, I have never said this in 42 years of my career. And I wanted to say this. 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.

"I can tell you this because in 2011, my first game as a KKR captain, we only had four overseas (players) available. And this man had a fabulous 50-over World Cup. And we went in that game with only three overseas players. He was carrying drinks in that game with no disappointment on his face. He taught me selflessness. Ryan ten Doeschate (sic)," Gambhir added.

Ryan ten Doeschate was signed by KKR at the IPL 2011 auction. He became the first associate player to secure a contract in the Indian T20 league. He played for Kolkata from 2011 to 2015, scoring 326 runs and taking two wickets. Later, he was appointed as the fielding coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders in November 2022.

Also read: BCCI rejects Gautam Gambhir's suggestion for bowling coach; approaches World Cup-winning bowler