India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has highlighted the team’s recent struggles in overseas T20I matches, urging players to acknowledge their underperformance and adapt to different playing environments. The remarks come after India suffered a 0-2 series defeat against Ireland, followed by losing the five-match T20I series against England 0-3 with one game remaining.
Ten Doeschate emphasised the need for the team to accept that their performance has been subpar in foreign conditions. He stressed that while adaptability is often discussed, the focus now must be on understanding the specific processes required for effective adaptation. The coach stated that the onus is on the players to adopt a mindset that acknowledges the current difficulties and to review the evidence of their performances.
Addressing overseas challenges
This marks the first time since February 2019 that India has lost two consecutive bilateral T20I series. Previously, they lost 2-1 in New Zealand and then 2-0 at home against Australia. Furthermore, England achieved a historic feat by defeating India in a bilateral T20I series of two or more matches for the first time, as India had won five of the previous six series between the two nations, with one ending in a draw.
Ten Doeschate urged players to concentrate on excelling in challenging overseas conditions rather than relying solely on their strong performances at home. He posed a question to the team, asking if they aspire to be a side that scores heavily in India or one that can adapt and succeed in places like Manchester, Southampton, and the MCG, where conditions differ significantly. He described this as a mental challenge that players need to embrace.
The assistant coach noted that the Indian batters have faced difficulties in the seam-friendly conditions of Ireland and England, particularly after playing most of the year on flat pitches in India. He underlined that quick adjustments are crucial for success in foreign pitches. Ten Doeschate mentioned that bowlers like Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue performed exceptionally well, and the Indian team had not adjusted sufficiently, despite discussions about evolving their approach.
Captaincy and squad adjustments
Ten Doeschate also addressed the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, noting that Iyer is the only player consistently scoring runs on the current tour. He mentioned that Iyer was not part of the squad that won the T20 World Cup four months prior. The coach expressed disappointment with the overall performance but highlighted the importance of learning from these games and continuing to trust the players, given their past contributions to the country.
He acknowledged that the team’s busy schedule back home meant they did not have ideal preparation time for the tour. While longer preparation is desirable, he noted the need to balance player freshness after events like the World Cup, IPL, and the Afghan series. Ten Doeschate emphasised that mental preparation for shifting mindsets and being open to quicker changes is vital.
The coach supported Shreyas Iyer, stating that he is a fantastic leader who is leading from the front with the bat. Ten Doeschate believes Iyer needs time and support to grow into his captaincy role. He also suggested that the return of players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya to the T20I squad would bring a different dynamic to the team, providing Shreyas with a slightly different squad and more options. India is set to play the fifth and final T20I against England in Southampton on Saturday.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter