Ryan ten Doeschate did not stay away from coaching for long. Barely 24 hours after stepping down as India’s assistant coach, the former Netherlands all-rounder has returned to familiar territory, rejoining the Knight Riders family in a newly created global leadership role.
Knight Riders Sports announced on Wednesday, July 29, that Ten Doeschate has been appointed as its Head of Cricket Strategy, a position that will see him oversee cricket operations across the franchise’s growing global network while also returning to on-field coaching duties with three overseas teams.
The appointment comes a day after India Today reported that Ten Doeschate had resigned as India’s assistant coach, despite the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) offering him an extension until 2027.
“We are delighted to welcome Tendo back to the Knight Riders family. His deep understanding of our philosophy, combined with his experience across franchise and international cricket, makes him ideally suited for this role. He will help shape the next phase of growth across the Knight Riders ecosystem,” Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore said.
Ten Doeschate, who spent two years with India’s men’s team under Gautam Gambhir, said the opportunity to work across multiple franchises and build long-term cricket structures was a key attraction.
“I’m excited to be back with the Knight Riders in this role. This is a unique opportunity to work with the coaching & analytics teams across our global franchises to strengthen our scouting/player development systems, and to build a long-term cricket strategy.”
TEN DOESCHATE RETRUNS TO KKR
The move marks a homecoming for Ten Doeschate, whose association with Kolkata Knight Riders stretches back more than a decade. He joined KKR as a player in 2011 and played a vital role in the franchise’s IPL title-winning campaigns in 2012 and 2014.
After retiring, he returned as part of the coaching staff in 2022 and was a member of the support group that helped KKR lift their third IPL title in 2024 under Gambhir. His new assignment significantly expands those responsibilities.
As Head of Cricket Strategy, Ten Doeschate will lead scouting, player recruitment, squad planning and performance evaluation across the Knight Riders’ global franchises. He will also serve as assistant coach for Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 and Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket.
END OF INDIA STINT
Ten Doeschate’s return to the Knight Riders setup follows the conclusion of a successful, albeit relatively short, spell with the Indian team.
He joined the national setup in July 2024 after Gambhir took over as head coach following India’s T20 World Cup triumph. Working alongside bowling coach Morne Morkel, Ten Doeschate played a multi-dimensional role, contributing to batting preparation, fielding sessions and tactical planning.
India won the 2025 Asia Cup and retained the T20 World Cup in 2026 during his tenure, although the Test side endured mixed fortunes.
India Today understands that the BCCI wanted Ten Doeschate to continue until 2027, but the 45-year-old declined the offer for personal reasons, preferring to spend more time with his young family after two demanding years on the international circuit.
An earlier PTI report had also suggested that the former all-rounder was frustrated by the lack of a clearly defined coaching portfolio, having initially expected to transition into the specialist fielding coach’s role.
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