Ryan ten Doeschate Returns to Knight Riders Sports After Leaving India Coaching Role

Ryan ten Doeschate has returned to the Knight Riders setup after stepping down as India’s men’s assistant coach, taking up the newly created role of Head of Cricket Strategy at Knight Riders Sports.

The former Netherlands all-rounder will oversee cricket strategy, talent identification, player recruitment and long-term development across the Knight Riders’ global franchise network.

Ryan Ten Doeschate to lead global cricket operations

Knight Riders Sports confirmed on Tuesday that ten Doeschate will spearhead scouting, squad planning and performance evaluation across its franchises while working closely with coaching and analytics teams to build a unified cricketing philosophy.

In addition to his strategic responsibilities, the 46-year-old will also serve as assistant coach of Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 and Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket.

Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore welcomed ten Doeschate’s return to the organisation.

“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,” Mysore said.

‘A unique opportunity’: Ten Doeschate

Speaking after his appointment, ten Doeschate said he was looking forward to strengthening the franchise’s scouting and player development systems.

“I’m excited to be back with the Knight Riders in this role. 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,” he said.

End of India coaching stint

The appointment comes shortly after ten Doeschate resigned as India’s assistant coach following the conclusion of the white-ball tour of England, where India lost the T20I series 4-0 and the ODI series 2-1.

He had joined the Indian support staff in 2024 after Gautam Gambhir was appointed head coach following Rahul Dravid’s departure, with responsibility across the batting and fielding departments.

During his tenure, India won the 2025 Asia Cup and successfully defended the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026. However, the Test side endured a difficult period, suffering a Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat in Australia and home series losses to both New Zealand (0-3) and South Africa (0-2).

Long association with Kolkata Knight Riders

Ten Doeschate’s association with the Knight Riders dates back to 2011 when he joined Kolkata Knight Riders as a player.

He was part of the franchise’s IPL-winning squads in 2012 and 2014 before transitioning into coaching. He later served on KKR’s coaching staff during the 2022 season and was part of the support team that helped the franchise secure its third IPL title in 2024.

His latest appointment expands that relationship beyond Kolkata, placing him in charge of shaping cricket operations across the Knight Riders’ multi-team ecosystem as the group continues to grow its presence in franchise leagues around the world.