In frame: Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir and Ryan ten Doeschate (Source: AFP)
Ryan ten Doeschate has rejoined three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their Head of Cricket Strategy, just a day after his stint as the Assistant Coach of the India men’s team ended.
The responsibilities of the former Netherlands cricketer at KKR will include player scouting and acquisition, as well as squad planning.
Additionally, ten Doeschate will be an assistant coach for KKR’s three sister franchises, Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20, and Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket (MLC).
Notably, Ryan ten Doeschate played for KKR from 2011 to 2015 and was part of the IPL title-winning squads in 2012 and 2014.
IPL: Ryan ten Doeschate returns to KKR as Head of Cricket Strategy after India assistant coach stint
Known for his calm temperament, all-round abilities and exceptional fielding, Ryan ten Doeschate became a fan favourite during his five-year playing stint with KKR.
For the unversed, he then returned to the franchise in 2022 as the fielding coach, a position he held until 2024, the year KKR lifted their third IPL trophy. Doeschate is once again back at the helm after a brief stint with the Indian national team.
That being said, in this article, let’s take a look at IPL coaches who went on to join the Indian cricket team.
1) Rahul Dravid: Rajasthan Royals Team Director and Mentor in 2014 and 2015
Not many are aware, but Rahul Dravid’s association with Rajasthan Royals franchise has seen multiple phases.
He was their captain in IPL 2012 and 2013, and then went on to serve as team director and mentor in the 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Dravid moved to Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) until he became the head of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru in 2019.
Moreover, in 2021, he was appointed head coach of the India men's team and ended his three-year stint with their first ICC title in 11 years, winning the T20 World Cup 2024 title.
2) Gautam Gambhir: Mentor for LSG in 2022-2023; KKR in 2024
Before succeeding Rahul Dravid as the Indian head coach, Gautam Gambhir served as the mentor for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022 and 2023. Gambhir successfully guided the franchise to the playoffs in both consecutive years before leaving to join the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Also read: VVS Laxman Openly Speaks On Permanently Replacing Gautam Gambhir
In 2024, Gambhir served as the mentor for the KKR. He helped guide the franchise to their third IPL title, working alongside head coach Chandrakant Pandit and captain Shreyas Iyer.
Later the same year, in July, Gambhir became the men’s head coach. So far in his tenure as India head coach, Gambhir has guided the national team to lift the Champions Trophy in Dubai, beating New Zealand in the final in 2025.
He further carried India to triumph in the Asia Cup in 2025 and the historic T20 World Cup 2026.
3) Sairaj Bahutule: Spin bowling coach for RR (2018–2021, and 2025) and PBKS (2026)
In July 2026, Sairaj Bahutule joined the Indian cricket coaching set-up as spin bowling coach. However, he was also a part of Rajasthan Royals’ support staff from 2018 to 2021, before joining the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
He served as support staff for India A assignments and a few India series, when Rahul Dravid was head coach, before returning for another one-year stint with RR in IPL 2025. Moreover, Bahutule’s latest stint was with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2026, where he also worked as their spin-bowling coach.
4) Subhadeep Ghosh: KKR Support Staff in 2014; Delhi Capitals fielding coach in 2026
On July 29, 2026, Subhadeep Ghosh was newly appointed fielding coach of the Indian men’s national cricket team, replacing T Dilip, whose contract was not renewed by the BCCI after India’s white-ball tour of England. His first assignment will be the 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka in August.
Notably, right before this assignment, Ghosh served as the fielding coach for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL 2026. Ghosh was also a part of the KKR support staff in 2014, when the franchise won its second title.
5) Hrishikesh Kanitkar: Assistant coach for Kochi Tuskers Kerala (2011) and Rising Pune Supergiants (2016)
Talking about Hrishikesh Kanitkar’s coaching experience in the Indian premier T20 league, he was appointed as the assistant coach for Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011, though he exited the contract prior to the tournament starting because of disagreements with management.
He then joined as assistant coach for Rising Pune Supergiants to support head coach Stephen Fleming and captain MS Dhoni for IPL season 9.
Later, Kanitkar was appointed senior women’s team batting coach in 2022, managed the team to a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games, and later took charge as a key coach within the BCCI’s developmental and India A squads.
Notably, as an essential part of the VVS Laxman-led set-up, Kanitkar accompanies the senior men’s team as batting coach whenever VVS Laxman joins the team as head coach.
Recently, Hrishikesh Kanitkar was a part of India’s squad for the successful 2026 Zimbabwe Tour and will continue for the Asian Games in September.
6) Paras Mhambrey: Assistant coach for Mumbai Indians 2009-2013
Paras Mhambrey has served as Mumbai Indian’s assistant coach from 2009 to 2013. He was also part of the MI set-up when the team won the IPL in 2013 and the Champions League T20 in 2011 and 2013.
Later, he was appointed as India's bowling coach from 2021 till August 2024 under Rahul Dravid and was part of the T20 World Cup-winning side in the Caribbean.
Once his stint with the Indian team ended, Mhambrey rejoined as MI bowling coach ahead of IPL 2025.
Also read: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s Bid For 2027 World Cup Gets Amplified
