Ryan ten Doeschate, India’s assistant coach, highlighted the team's key goals for the coming years, including winning the Champions Trophy in 2025 and reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Speaking to Talksport Cricket, the 44-year-old former Dutch international emphasised the challenge of preparing for these major tournaments.
“The Champions Trophy in February 2025 is a big target for us,” ten Doeschate said. “With only three ODIs left to prepare, switching between formats will be challenging, but it’s something we’re determined to win.”
Looking ahead, he also stressed the importance of qualifying for the WTC final. “We have a great opportunity with 10 Tests remaining—five in India and five in Australia. This is a significant chance for us,” he added.
Ten Doeschate acknowledged that India’s ability to handle spin bowling has been affected in recent years. This issue was highlighted during the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka, where India lost 27 wickets to spin and was defeated 0-2.
“We struggled against Sri Lankan spinners. The focus has shifted towards performing well overseas, especially in Australia and England, and as a result, our spin playing skills have declined,” ten Doeschate noted. “One of my goals is to help the team regain its strength in playing spin.”
He also emphasised that improving performance against spin requires a mental shift rather than just technical adjustments. “We’ll focus more on mindsets, situational awareness, and managing different phases of the game,” he said. “It’s about keeping the mental space positive, sharing ideas, and debriefing effectively. This approach will be crucial.”