India's outgoing coach joins KKR [Source: AFP]In a significant development, India's outgoing coach Ryan ten Doeschate joined Kolkata Knight Riders in a new capacity for the IPL 2027 season. Recently, Ryan ten Doeschate bid adieu to Team India, vacating the assistant coach's spot in the Gautam Gambhir-led team management. Soon after his contract with the BCCI was terminated, ten Doeschate made a grand return to the Knight Riders setup, joining them as their Head of Cricket Strategy. What role will Ryan ten Doeschate play for KKR and its sister franchises?Former Netherlands cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate became a part of the Indian team after the BCCI appointed him as the assistant coach on July 24 following the hiring of Gautam Gambhir as the head coach. As his two-year tenure with the Indian team came to an end, Ten Doeschate refused a contract extension, citing personal reasons. Earlier, it was reported that the Dutch would return to the Knight Riders camp following his association with the Indian team. As expected, Ryan ten Doeschate returned to KKR for a second stint, albeit in a broader capacity. As notified by KKR, Ten Doeschate has been appointed as the Head of Cricket Strategy of the Knight Riders family. He will play a pivotal role in acquiring new talents, while also strategising and monitoring the growth and development of the Knight Riders Sports across global T20 leagues. Additionally, Ten Doeschate will serve as the assistant coach of KKR's sister franchises- Trinbago Knight Riders, Los Angeles Knight Riders and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders- in the Carribean Premier League, Major League Cricket and ILT20, respectively. Also Read: Why T Dilip's Stint With Team India Has Ended Suddenly?How did Ryan ten Doeschate react to his KKR return?It's worth mentioning that Ryan ten Doeschate became part of the Kolkata Knight Riders as a player in 2011. He was a key member of the KKR squad that won the IPL in 2012 and 2024. After announcing his retirement from professional cricket, ten Doeschate served KKR as a coach from 2022 to 2024, being part of their IPL title-winning coaching staff under Shreyas Iyer's leadership. Thus, the former Dutch cricketer will serve as the Head of Cricket Strategy for the very first time in his coaching career. In his reaction, Ryan ten Doeschate expressed his excitement at coming back to KKR in a whole new capacity, vowing to strengthen the Knight Riders as a leading sports franchise through his strategic acumen and sharp insights. "This is a unique opportunity to work with the coaching and analytics teams across our global franchises to strengthen our scouting and player development systems, and to build a long-term cricket strategy," Ryan ten Doeschate said. What impact can Ryan ten Doeschate create for the Knight Riders?Ryan ten Doeschate is a seasoned veteran with extensive coaching experience. Apart from being part of the KKR coaching setup in the past, the Netherlands cricket legend was also associated with Team India for two years. During his stint as India's assistant head coach, Ryan ten Doeschate must've identified several domestic talents who could serve the national side. As the Head of Cricket Strategy, ten Doeschate can vouch for the inclusion of those players while preparing KKR's IPL auction plan. According to the legendary Alastair Cook, Ryan ten Doeschate is the best captain he has played under in the English domestic circuit. Cook's admission highlights the Dutchman's leadership attributes, as he's set to take a bigger responsibility for the Knight Riders franchise. As someone who has witnessed the evolution of modern-day cricket from close quarters, Ryan ten Doeschate can help KKR grow into T20 giants across global leagues through his leadership and strategic inputs. Also Read: Justin Greaves Openly Claims Pakistan Player Helped Him Win vs Pakistan
