‘Quite Difficult’: India’s New Asst. Coach Ryan Ten Doeschate Highlights Major Issue With The Team

Rohit Sharma-led India has tough challenges ahead of them. They won the T20 World Cup this year, but the one trophy that continues to remain missing from their cabinet is the World Test Championship (WTC) mace. India are the only team as of now to qualify for two consecutive WTC finals, but they have always ended up on the losing side.

India lost to New Zealand in 2021 and then to Australia in 2023. India are on the top of the WTC 2025 points table, but there is still a long road ahead of them which will decide their chances of qualifying for the finals. India will play ten Test matches before the WTC finals and these Tests will be crucial to their hopes of winning the Test mace.

India's Assistant Coach Ryan Ten Doeschate On The Challenges With Team India

India waited their 11-year-long wait of winning an ICC Trophy, earlier this year in June. The Indian cricket team scripted history as they defeated South Africa in the finals of T20 World Cup on June 29, 2024. Winning a World Cup is no easy feat, but the Indian team, under Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid made it possible.

The Indian team is now under the supervision of a new coaching unit. Gautam Gambhir is the Head Coach of the team and is joined by Morne Morkel as bowling coach and Ryan Ten Doeschate as the Assistant Coach. The former Dutch player while speaking to Talksport Cricket shed light on the biggest challenge with Team India.

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'In terms of timing, it's quite difficult to walk into a team that's just come back with the World Cup. But in terms of what's ahead of us 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', said Doeschate.

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India Set Their Eyes On Crucial WTC Finals

India will play five Test matches at home and will then travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India will play Australia in five Test matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Currently India are the top of the WTC 2025 standings.