Ryan ten Doeschate Returns to Knight Riders as Head of Cricket Strategy
Ryan ten Doeschate's New Role and Responsibilities
Knight Riders Sports has officially announced the return of Ryan ten Doeschate as the Head of Cricket Strategy. In this pivotal role, he will oversee cricket strategy, talent acquisition, and development across the organization's global franchises.
Ten Doeschate will be responsible for guiding the strategic direction of scouting, player recruitment, squad planning, and performance evaluation within the Knight Riders network. He will collaborate closely with coaching teams to establish a unified cricketing philosophy across all franchises.
Additionally, he will take on the role of Assistant Coach for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20, and the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the Major League Cricket (MLC).
CEO's Statement on Ten Doeschate's Appointment
Venky Mysore, the CEO of Knight Riders Sports, expressed enthusiasm about Ten Doeschate's return, stating, "We are thrilled to have Tendo back in the Knight Riders family. His profound understanding of our philosophy, coupled with his extensive experience in franchise and international cricket, makes him the perfect fit for this position. He will play a crucial role in shaping the future growth of the Knight Riders ecosystem."
Ten Doeschate's Excitement and Vision
Ryan ten Doeschate shared his excitement about rejoining the Knight Riders, saying, "I am eager to return to the Knight Riders in this capacity. This role presents a unique chance to collaborate with coaching and analytics teams across our global franchises to enhance our scouting and player development systems, as well as to formulate a long-term cricket strategy."
Ten Doeschate's Journey with Knight Riders
Ryan's association with the Knight Riders began in 2011 when he played for KKR. He was instrumental in the team's title victories in IPL 2012 and 2014. In 2022, he transitioned to a coaching role and contributed to the team's success during their third IPL championship in 2024.
Previous Role with Indian Cricket Team
Prior to this appointment, ten Doeschate resigned from his position as India's men's assistant coach after the white-ball series in England. He communicated his decision to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during the UK tour, where India faced defeats in both T20I and ODI series.
As the former captain of the Netherlands, Doeschate had been part of India's coaching staff since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach after Rahul Dravid's departure following India's 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Selected personally by Gambhir, he became a vital member of the support team, contributing to batting and fielding strategies.
During his time with India, Doeschate was involved in the coaching group that led the team to victory in the 2025 Asia Cup and successfully defended their title in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup. However, the Test side faced challenges, including a defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and a home series whitewash against New Zealand (0-3) and South Africa (0-2).