The former India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has joined the Knight Riders fold as the newly appointed Head of Cricket Strategy at Knight Riders Sports. The Dutch international will be responsible for the management of cricket operations and strategy for the franchise’s various teams around the world.
The appointment follows ten Doeschate’s 10-month stint with the Indian men’s team. He opted out of an extension following India’s limited-overs stint in England, and his stint with the Knight Riders was the next step in his coaching journey.
Ten Doeschate Takes Key Strategic Role
As part of his new role, ten Doeschate will oversee a number of key aspects of the Knight Riders’ operations, such as cricket strategy, talent identification, player recruitment, squad planning and performance evaluation. He will closely collaborate with the coaching and analytics staff on all teams in the franchise.
Ten Doeschate will also be instrumental in creating a more cohesive cricketing approach within the Knight Riders family. He will likely be a key player in the franchise’s long-term plans, as he has a wealth of experience as both a player and coach.
Knight Riders Welcome His Return
Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore welcomed back ten Doeschate and spoke about his understanding of the franchise’s philosophy. Mysore thinks that his international and franchise stint will come in handy as the Knight Riders are looking to grow their cricketing operations.
Ten Doeschate also shared his joy of coming back to the organisation. The role would offer him the chance to work with coaching and analytics staff at all the franchise teams worldwide and enhance scouting and player development systems, he added.
Assistant Coach Across Three Franchises
Ten Doeschate will also serve as an assistant coach in the Caribbean Premier League for Trinbago Knight Riders, the ILT20 for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Major League Cricket for Los Angeles Knight Riders.
His role and coaching will allow him to be directly involved in the Knight Riders’ teams in various T20 formats. It will also enable him to be close to the players and coaching staff and be involved in recruitment and squad building.
Return Follows India Coaching Exit
The return of Ten Doeschate to the Knight Riders follows him telling the BCCI earlier this month that he wanted to leave his job as India’s assistant coach. After the limited-overs tour to England, his two-year contract with the Indian team came to an end.
It was known that his decision was motivated by personal reasons, as the former Netherlands international wanted to spend more time with his family in London. His exit from the Indian coaching setup has now been followed by an instant comeback to the franchise environment.
Long Association With Knight Riders
Ten Doeschate has a long association with the Knight Riders organisation, having first appeared in the team as a player in 2011. He had a strong association with the franchise as a part of the winning teams in the IPL 2012 and 2014.
He joined KKR as a coach in 2022 and served as a part of the support staff in the 2024 edition of the IPL where the team clinched its third title. He then joined the Gautam Gambhir coaching staff in India towards the end of the year, beginning his international coaching career.
New Chapter for Ten Doeschate
The new job will allow ten Doeschate to bring his international cricket experience to his new role, as well as his wealth of knowledge in the Knight Riders organisation. His knowledge of player development, recruitment and franchise cricket may be of great benefit to the group’s growing international network.
Ten Doeschate will now have a central role in shaping the future of the Knight Riders, as he takes on roles of both strategy and coaching. His comeback also bolsters the leadership of the franchise as they remain in the fray of the top T20 cricket leagues globally.
