Who Will Replace Ryan ten Doeschate? Top Candidates to Join Gautam Gambhir’s India Coaching Staff

India’s coaching setup is set for another reshuffle after assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate stepped down following the white-ball tour of England, ending a two-year stint under head coach Gautam Gambhir.

The development comes alongside the departure of fielding coach T. Dilip, whose contract has also concluded. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that both coaches had completed their contractual tenure, with multiple reports suggesting Subhadeep Ghosh is set to replace Dilip as India’s next fielding coach.

The focus now shifts to who will fill ten Doeschate’s role ahead of India’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka.

Sitanshu Kotak remains the frontrunner

If the BCCI prioritises continuity, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak appears the most straightforward option.

Kotak has been part of India’s support staff since earlier this year and is already deeply embedded within the BCCI’s coaching pathway after successful stints with India A and the National Cricket Academy.

His familiarity with India’s domestic structure and emerging players would allow Gambhir to maintain stability without making sweeping changes to the coaching group.

Abhishek Nayar could return

Another name likely to be discussed is Abhishek Nayar.

The former Mumbai all-rounder previously worked alongside Gambhir before India’s coaching structure was reorganised and enjoys a strong reputation for player development and one-on-one mentoring.

Nayar has played a key role in the development of several Indian internationals and already shares an established working relationship with Gambhir from their Kolkata Knight Riders days, making him a natural candidate should the BCCI opt for a reunion.

Hrishikesh Kanitkar offers a long-term solution

Hrishikesh Kanitkar is another strong internal contender.

Having worked extensively with India A and age-group teams, Kanitkar is regarded as one of the BCCI’s most respected development coaches.

His experience working with the next generation of Indian cricketers could help strengthen the pathway between domestic cricket and the senior side while providing the calm tactical presence that ten Doeschate offered.

Could former India stars enter the conversation?

Several former internationals have also been linked as outside possibilities, although there has been no official indication that the BCCI has approached any of them.

Harbhajan Singh recently conducted a specialist off-spin camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, while Zaheer Khan has worked closely with both Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants and earlier this year led a specialised red-ball camp for India’s emerging fast bowlers.

Yuvraj Singh’s name has also surfaced, given his reputation as a mentor to several current Indian stars, including Test captain Shubman Gill and T20 opener Abhishek Sharma. However, reports have also linked him with a batting coaching role at Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2027.

What profile is India looking for?

Replacing ten Doeschate is about more than filling a vacancy.

The former Netherlands international played a key role across India’s batting, fielding and tactical planning after joining Gambhir’s coaching staff in 2024. During his tenure, India won the 2025 Asia Cup and successfully defended the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026.

His successor will likely need to complement Gambhir’s coaching style while strengthening India’s red-ball revival after recent Test setbacks.

With the Sri Lanka Test series beginning next month, the BCCI is expected to move quickly, and while several high-profile names have emerged, Kotak, Nayar and Kanitkar currently appear the strongest candidates to join Gambhir’s support staff.