In a candid admission that has sent ripples through the cricketing world, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has branded the current T20 squad as ‘underachievers’ in foreign conditions. The stark assessment comes after a chastening period for the Men in Blue, who were clean swept by Ireland in a two-match T20I series before suffering a humiliating 3-0 deficit against England in a five-match series, culminating in a nine-wicket thrashing in the fourth T20I.

Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, a relatively new-look Indian side has struggled immensely to adapt to the seam-friendly pitches and cooler climes of Ireland and England. The coach’s comments highlight a critical introspection needed within the team, especially as they look towards future global tournaments.

The Bitter Pill of ‘Underachievement’ Abroad

Ryan ten Doeschate’s post-match press conference was not merely a dissection of a single loss, but a broader indictment of the team’s inability to perform consistently outside familiar subcontinental conditions. ‘The challenge for the group is to accept the fact that we are underachieving in foreign conditions,’ he stated, mincing no words. This sentiment underlines a significant mental hurdle that India, despite its T20 World Champion status (won four months prior by a different squad), needs to overcome.

The former Dutch international emphasized that merely acknowledging the need for adaptation is insufficient. ‘We have spoken so much about adaptability, it’s easy to say we need to adapt, it’s easy to say but really it’s a point now where we need to understand the process, what is needed to make those adaptations,’ ten Doeschate explained. This suggests a systemic issue, where the ‘how’ of adapting remains elusive, despite repeated discussions within the team setup.

The Mental Shift: From Home Dominance to Away Struggles

India’s T20 prowess on home soil is well-documented, with batters often dominating on flat, high-scoring pitches. However, the recent tours have exposed a glaring vulnerability when confronted with different challenges. The coach drew a sharp contrast: ‘Do we want be a team that smashes 250 in India and looks great hitting 80m six at Eden Gardens or do you want to come to places like Manchester, Southampton where things are slightly different and further down the line the MCG.’ This rhetorical question encapsulates the psychological battle the team faces – to transcend their comfort zone and excel globally.

The English conditions, particularly, have tested the Indian batters. Against the likes of Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue, who ‘bowled exceptionally well’, India’s batting lineup failed to make the necessary ‘adjustment’. Ten Doeschate observed, ‘We just haven’t quite managed to shift from that mindset where we read on whether we are really strong on good wickets and the little adjustments that were needed.’ He noted that the wickets in the series were ‘little slower, had a little bit of bounce’, demanding a different approach. The inability to alter playing styles swiftly, ingrained after months of playing on typically placid Indian pitches and during the IPL, remains a significant hurdle.

Shreyas Iyer: A Lone Beacon Amidst the Batting Collapse

Amidst the widespread batting struggles, captain Shreyas Iyer emerged as the sole consistent performer, scoring ‘heavy runs’ throughout the tour. It’s a poignant detail that Iyer was not part of the T20 World Cup winning squad just four months ago, yet is now carrying the batting load. ‘The majority of those guys won a World Cup four months ago, one of the guys (Shreyas Iyer) who wasn’t there is scoring heavy runs,’ ten Doeschate remarked, highlighting the irony and the collective underperformance of others.

Iyer’s technique, particularly his ability to ‘use the crease’, was singled out as suitable for the conditions. Despite his personal batting form, the weight of captaincy in a losing cause is immense. The coach, however, backed Iyer, describing him as a ‘fantastic leader’ and advocating for patience. ‘The immediate backlash of transitioning to a new captain after losing two games against Ireland and 3-0 down in England, I think it isn’t very good. It is important to look at things a little realistically,’ he cautioned, advocating for a long-term perspective on Iyer’s leadership development.

The Impact of Scheduling and Preparation

The rigorous international cricket calendar also came under scrutiny. Ten Doeschate acknowledged that the team didn’t get ‘enough preparation time for the tour’. Following a busy schedule including a World Cup, IPL, and an Afghan series, the team had only ‘four, five days practice’ before facing Ireland and England. While not an excuse, it underscores the challenges of balancing player freshness with adequate preparation for diverse conditions. ‘Mentally you have to be prepared to make that shift, ideally you have to identify things that work in one area don’t necessarily work elsewhere,’ he added, emphasizing the mental toll and the need for quicker adjustments.

Future Hopes: The Return of Key Stalwarts

Looking ahead, there is a clear acknowledgment that the current squad is not at full strength. The anticipated return of key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya is expected to significantly bolster the team. Ten Doeschate stated, ‘Hardik and Jasprit make a big difference to the team. We have got a slightly different squad with different weapons’. Their absence, perhaps more keenly felt in these challenging conditions, certainly impacts the team’s balance and overall firepower. The coach hopes their return, coupled with giving Shreyas Iyer more time to grow into his captaincy role and for players to adapt to his style, will yield better results.

The immediate task for India is to salvage some pride in the inconsequential fifth and final T20I in Southampton. However, the broader message from Ryan ten Doeschate is clear: India needs a fundamental shift in mindset and a more effective strategy for adapting to conditions outside the subcontinent if they are to shed the ‘underachievers’ tag and truly excel on the global stage, especially with an eye on the T20 World Cup in Australia ‘two years down the line’. This current struggle, while painful, presents a crucial opportunity for introspection and necessary evolution for Indian cricket.

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