The Indian men's cricket team has announced significant changes to its coaching staff. Ryan ten Doeschate has stepped down as the assistant coach, concluding his two-year tenure with the national side. Simultaneously, Subhadeep Ghosh has been appointed as the new fielding coach, replacing T Dilip, whose contract was not renewed. These changes take effect immediately, ahead of India's upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka in August.[timesofindia+4]
Ten Doeschate's Two-Year Journey Ends
Ryan ten Doeschate, the former Netherlands all-rounder, joined the Indian coaching setup in July 2024.This move happened after former India opener Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach, following India's T20 World Cup triumph in 2024.Ten Doeschate had a close working relationship with Gambhir from their time together at Kolkata Knight Riders.He became a key part of the support staff, contributing to batting and fielding departments.[timesofindia+15]
During his two-year stint, the Indian team achieved notable success in white-ball cricket. India secured victories in the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2025 Asia Cup.The team also successfully defended the Men's T20 World Cup title in 2026.However, the Test side experienced a challenging period, including losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and suffering series defeats against New Zealand and South Africa.[timesofindia+11]
Ten Doeschate informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision to leave during India's recent white-ball tour of England.The BCCI had offered him an extension until 2027, keen to retain his services.However, he declined the offer, citing personal reasons.The former all-rounder expressed a desire to spend more time with his young family and step away from the demanding international travel schedule.He is now expected to rejoin the Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in a coaching capacity.[timesofindia+13]
Fielding Coach T Dilip Departs
T Dilip's tenure as the fielding coach has concluded, with his contract not being extended by the BCCI.His final assignment with the team was also the white-ball tour of England.Dilip was initially appointed as the fielding coach under then-head coach Rahul Dravid in November 2021.He was the only member of Dravid's support staff to be retained when Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach in July 2024.Senior players, including captain Rohit Sharma, had reportedly advocated for his continuation in the role at that time.[timesofindia+13]
Despite an earlier contract extension, the decision not to renew Dilip's contract followed a review of the team's recent fielding performances.Reports indicated that India's fielding during recent assignments, particularly the UK tour, was considered "underwhelming" and "below par."This included instances of dropped catches, which reportedly played a role in defeats.Dilip had previously been praised for improving fielding standards during Rahul Dravid's tenure.However, the situation reportedly became a concern under Gambhir's leadership, leading to the change.[thesportstak+10]
Subhadeep Ghosh Steps In
Subhadeep Ghosh has been named as India's new fielding coach, marking his first international assignment with the senior men's team.Ghosh brings extensive coaching experience to the role. He has spent nearly a decade developing talent at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.His background also includes stints with Indian Premier League franchises like Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, where he contributed to their coaching staff.[timesofindia+12]
Furthermore, Ghosh has served as the fielding coach for India A teams, touring with them for various assignments.He also worked with the Indian women's national team during their multi-format tour of Australia in 2021.His experience extends to India's Under-19 squads, including their 2024 World Cup campaign.Ghosh is known for his methodical drill structures, focus on ground fielding repetitions, and emphasis on reaction times.He aims to bring a direct, technical focus to help eliminate fielding errors as India prepares for a busy international schedule.[timesofindia+13]
Future Outlook for Indian Cricket
These coaching staff changes represent a reshuffling within the Gautam Gambhir-led support team.Ryan ten Doeschate's departure is the first significant change to Gambhir's backroom staff since it was formed two years ago.The BCCI is now expected to finalize Gambhir's support staff before the team departs for the three-Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 15.Subhadeep Ghosh will join the squad for this upcoming series, taking on his new responsibilities immediately.The Board aims to enhance the team's fielding standards ahead of important international assignments in the coming season.[yardbarker+8]
