Indian Cricket Team Support Staff Changes Expected After Series Losses

Kathmandu. After losing two consecutive Twenty20 series against England and Ireland, there are indications that changes may occur in the Indian cricket team's support staff. According to various reports, assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate and bowling coach Morne Morkel may be out of the team. The current contracts of both are ending after the one-day series against England. After continuous poor performance, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will review the team and support staff. The team's poor fielding has also become a matter of concern for the board. There is talk that fielding coach T. Dilip may also be removed after India dropped more than 10 catches during their tours of Ireland and England. Last year, he was removed from the team along with Abhishek Nayar but was later reinstated. Assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate is reportedly not satisfied with the schedule of continuous travel with the Indian team throughout the year and has also conveyed this to the BCCI. There is talk that he may be associated with an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, while Morkel is also looking for other options.

Balaji May Get Big Responsibility

If Doeschate and Morkel are out of the support staff, the new fast bowling coach of the Centre of Excellence (COE), Laxmipathy Balaji, may be sent with the Indian team on the Sri Lanka tour. India is scheduled to play a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in early August. Similarly, in the T20 series in Zimbabwe at the end of July, VVS Laxman will take charge of the team along with the coaching staff of the COE.

Head coach Rahul Dravid had included Doeschate and Morkel in his support staff after taking charge in July 2024. Earlier, Sitanshu Kotak has been given the responsibility in place of batting coach Abhishek Nayar. A major change in Dravid's support staff is strongly possible after the England tour.

India's Performance Under Dravid's Coaching

Although India's performance in ODIs and T20s has been excellent under Rahul Dravid's coaching, it has been disappointing in Tests. In ODIs, India won 16 out of 23 matches and lifted the Champions Trophy 2025. In T20s, the team won 37 out of 53 matches and also won the Asia Cup 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026. However, India then lost the T20 series to Ireland 2-0 and England 4-0 for the first time. In Tests, India's record has been the worst. The team won only six Tests out of 18, lost home series against New Zealand and South Africa, and also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years. England defeated India in a T20 series for the first time since 2014. Out of the 10 series played between the two teams, India has won five and England has won four, with one series being drawn. India lost a T20 series for the first time since losing to West Indies 3-2 in 2023.