There have been several calls to boycott the clash between India and Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to take place on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. On the social platforms, many have called for ignoring the contest due to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, has hoped that the Suryakumar Yadav-led side will aim to give a befitting reply to the neighbours. He addressed that the Blue Brigade won’t be able to skip the multinational event because it would be against the spirit of the game.

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“For tomorrow's game, BCCI wishes all the best to the Indian cricket team. They will do their best to win the match so that it can be a befitting reply to all the incidents which we don't want to remember for long. India, although it has to play with a country with which we don't have a good relationship. But still, we have to play a multinational tournament as per the policy of the government of India.” Saikia expressed during an interaction on India Today.

Devajit Saikia comments on controversial India vs Pakistan clash of Men’s Asia Cup 2025

India is coming into this encounter on the back of their dominating victory against the United Arab Emirates, where they chased down the target of 58 runs in just 27 balls. Their spinner didn’t allow the opponent batters to free their arms at any stage of the fixture, and they will hope to repeat the same feat against the Salman Ali Agha-led side.

“Therefore, we cannot refuse to play a multinational tournament, which will be against the spirit of the game. We fully honor the spirit of the game and participate in any international or multinational tournament so that nothing takes place against the interests of our players and in our various sports disciplines.” Saikia shed light in the same discussion. 

On the eve of the clash, their assistant coach, Ryan Ten Doeschate, revealed head coach Gautam Gambhir’s message for the encounter. “We obviously are aware of the sentiments and the strong feelings. And Gauti's (Gambhir's nickname) message has just been very professional, about not worrying about things that are not in our control.” Doeschate concluded.

In a rain-hit opening day, India ended with 204/6 against England at the Kennington Oval in South London, thanks to the half-century from Karun Nair for the first time after his 300-run knock. However, the speculation of the day centered on Jasprit Bumrah not playing the decider after taking a four-run break. 

‘It’s a complex decision. He’s not hiding; we’re managing him. He told us he’d play three Tests and left it to us to decide which ones. His workload has been high, even if it doesn’t look like that on paper. We just didn’t think this was the game to push him.’ India’s assistant coach, Ryan Ten Doeschate, expressed this in the press conference after the opening day.

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He also reacted to how Shubman Gill, their leader, got run out after rushing for a single and slipping to see Gus Atkinson breaking the stumps. ‘More so for him, I’d imagine. He looked in great touch. However, these things happen, especially when boundaries are scarce. Overall, we were happy with how the batters accumulated.’

Ryan Ten Doeschate reacts to India’s morale without Jasprit Bumrah during ENG vs IND 5th Test

The visitors had gone with Akash Deep, who has made a comeback into the side from injury, while Mohammed Siraj looked dead on his feet in Manchester. The third and last pacer of the side is Prasidh Krishna, who couldn’t find the right line and length during his first two games. It could have been a hard place to be in the decider without the premier pacer.

‘I wouldn’t say he’s picking and choosing. He gave us a clear plan, and we’ve tried to manage him responsibly. As for the rest, Arshdeep, Kuldeep, and Abhimanyu, they’ve been outstanding. No complaints, just full effort every day. That’s what creates a good culture..’ Ryan Ten Doeschate addressed.

‘The message was about mentally switching back on. That’s hard when you’re in and out. You have to restart every time. I thought the boys handled it pretty well, especially Sai, who looked composed. Josh Tongue bowled two cracking deliveries at the end there.’ The veteran concluded on how the rain breaks affected the batting group.  

As per reports, the Board of Cricket for India (BCCI) is mulling over to part ways with India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and India's bowling coach Morne Morkel. The duo may see their tenure come to an end following the conclusion of the Asia Cup 2025. The decision will be independent of the outcome of the current Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. 

But on the contrary, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is at the helm, will continue to serve as the head coach for the men's team for the foreseeable future. The Indian coaching staff has come under the scanner following the team's poor show, especially in overseas Test tours. Gambhir, too, has not been able to evade the blame and the wrath of the Indian fans. 

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Under Gambhir's mentorship, India stooped to new lows that have previously not been seen with the earlier coaching personnel. The team lost to New Zealand 0-3 at home, recording the first instance ever when a team whitewashed India in a test series at home. Moving on to the Border-Gavaskar Test series in Australia, Gambhir faced a challenging assignment as India were humiliated by 3-1 and missed securing a spot in the WTC final for the first time in three editions. 

As for the current Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the team has shown some fight, but the results have been far from ideal. The hard-fought draw in Manchester has kept India alive, but only just. India are still behind in the series by 1-2, and Gambhir & Co.. could be starting at yet another overseas Test series defeat.

Morkel has also had to share a lot of the blame, especially after the Indian bowlers faltered immensely during the fourth Test, allowing England to comfortably cruise to 669. According to the top BCCI officials, Morkel hasn't been able to bolster the competitive edge of the bowlers. Besides, they also questioned the exact role of ten Doeschate and wondered if he was at all any help to the team. 

These sweeping changes are expected to take effect later in the month of September. A formal communication from the BCCI is awaited in the coming days. As far as the series is concerned, India have one more game to go to square the series 2-2 at the Kia Oval. 

As India prepares for the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, the team’s coaching staff has welcomed a new addition: Ryan ten Doeschate, the former Netherlands batter.

Seen wearing India’s training gear in a viral social media picture, ten Doeschate joins as one of two assistant coaches under the leadership of new head coach Gautam Gambhir. This marks a new era for Indian cricket, as the team embraces a dual assistant coach setup for the first time, alongside Abhishek Nayar.

New coaching staff under Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as head coach signifies a shift in India’s coaching approach, with an emphasis on versatility and experience. Ten Doeschate, known for his successful stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL, brings a wealth of experience to the team.

Abhishek Nayar, also a former KKR player, joins him as the second assistant coach. The decision to include two assistant coaches instead of dedicated batting or bowling coaches reflects Gambhir’s strategic vision for the team.

This change comes after the end of Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach, along with the non-renewal of contracts for batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. Only T Dilip, the fielding coach, remains from the previous coaching staff, highlighting a significant overhaul under Gambhir’s leadership.

Coaching roles and future plans

During a recent media briefing, Gambhir expressed satisfaction with the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) approval of his coaching team selections. He revealed that the complete list of coaches will be finalized after the Sri Lanka tour. Despite the absence of a dedicated batting or bowling coach in his current support staff, Gambhir is confident that his chosen team can address all aspects of player development and strategy.

Morne Morkel, a former South African fast bowler, has emerged as a strong candidate for the role of bowling coach, signaling potential future additions to the coaching lineup. As India embarks on this new chapter with Gambhir at the helm, the team’s management is focused on creating a cohesive and dynamic support system to drive success on the international stage.

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With Ryan ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar officially joining the coaching team, India looks forward to leveraging their expertise and insights as they prepare for the challenges of the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka and beyond.