Ryan ten Doeschate has rejoined the Knight Riders setup as Head of Cricket Strategy at Knight Riders Sports. The role puts him in charge of cricket strategy across the franchise’s teams worldwide. His appointment came soon after his two-year contract with the Indian men’s team ended, following the limited-overs tour of England. The former Netherlands all-rounder chose not to seek an extension with the BCCI.
New Role Covers Strategy Across Knight Riders Franchises
In his new position, ten Doeschate will handle cricket strategy, talent identification, player recruitment, squad planning and performance evaluation across the Knight Riders network. He will work alongside the coaching staff at each franchise to build a shared cricketing approach. Along with this strategic role, he will also serve as assistant coach for three teams: Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20, and Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket. This dual responsibility places him at the center of both the big-picture planning and the day-to-day coaching work across the group’s global operations.
Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore welcomed the move, calling ten Doeschate’s return a natural fit given his background with the franchise. He pointed to ten Doeschate’s grasp of the organization’s philosophy and his experience across both franchise cricket and international coaching. Mysore said the new hire would help guide the next stage of growth for the Knight Riders group.
Ten Doeschate echoed that sentiment, saying he looked forward to working with the coaching and analytics teams across the franchises. He described the opportunity as a chance to strengthen scouting and player development systems while shaping a long-term strategy for the group.
Exit From India Coaching Staff Followed Personal Reasons
The appointment confirms a move that had been anticipated for weeks. Ten Doeschate had already told the BCCI earlier this month that he wanted to step away from his role as India’s assistant coach. Reports indicated that personal reasons drove the decision, with ten Doeschate wanting to spend more time with his family in London after wrapping up his two-year term with the Indian setup. His departure from the national team coaching staff came right after the England tour concluded.
He had joined Gautam Gambhir’s coaching staff in 2024, taking on the assistant coach role after a long run with Knight Riders. That stint with the Indian team marked his first major move away from the Knight Riders group since he began working with them in a coaching capacity.
Long History With Knight Riders Franchise
Ten Doeschate’s ties with Knight Riders go back to 2011, when he first joined Kolkata Knight Riders as a player. He was part of the squad during their IPL-winning seasons in 2012 and 2014. He later returned to the franchise in a coaching role in 2022.
In that capacity, he formed part of the support staff that helped Kolkata Knight Riders win their third IPL title in 2024, shortly before he moved on to join the India coaching setup.
His return now brings him back into a much wider role, one that spans the entire Knight Riders network rather than a single franchise team.
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