3 former players who can replace Ryan ten Doeschate as India's assistant coach

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to have a vacancy in the senior men's team's support staff after Ryan ten Doeschate departed from his role as assistant coach following India's white-ball tour of England. The former Netherlands all-rounder, who joined the Indian setup alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir in July 2024, played a key role in India's successful campaigns, including the 2025 Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup.

With ten Doeschate now taking over as the Head of Cricket Strategy at Kolkata Knight Riders, the Indian men's team could look at veteran former cricketers to fill the vacant position.

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh could be a strong candidate for the role, thanks to his vast playing experience and growing involvement in coaching.

Harbhajan represented India for nearly two decades and finished with 417 Test wickets and 269 ODI wickets. He was also a member of India's victorious squads in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.

In recent years, Harbhajan has started contributing to player development. Earlier in 2026, he conducted a specialist off-spin camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, where he worked with young bowlers such as Saransh Jain, Tanush Kotian, and Himanshu Singh. His experience of mentoring emerging spinners and understanding of the modern game could make him a valuable addition to India's coaching staff.