India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted the team was left disappointed after suffering a series defeat to Ireland, acknowledging that the visitors failed to adapt to unfamiliar conditions while praising Ireland’s disciplined and intelligent cricket.
Ten Doeschate said India’s biggest takeaway from the tour was the need to adjust more quickly when playing in overseas conditions rather than relying on the aggressive style that has brought them success at home. He stressed that while India remain committed to dominating the powerplay, the batters must make smarter decisions instead of abandoning their attacking identity.
“Ireland deserve full credit,” ten Doeschate said. “We have to learn how to adapt to different conditions and different opponents. We don’t want to become overly cautious, but we need to take better options.”
The coach pointed to the windy conditions and Ireland’s disciplined bowling as key factors behind India’s struggles. Irish bowlers consistently denied Indian batters opportunities to hit straight, limiting their scoring options and exposing their inability to adjust. In contrast, Ireland adapted brilliantly with both bat and ball, posting competitive totals and defending them effectively.
Although India had limited preparation after arriving only days before the series and lost a planned training session because of a wet outfield, ten Doeschate refused to use those factors as excuses. Instead, he said the players must develop the ability to assess conditions and respond much faster during matches.
He also praised Ireland’s remarkable performance, admitting he had not expected such a stern challenge despite respecting the hosts. Highlighting the experience within the Indian squad, including multiple World Cup winners and IPL veterans, he described Ireland’s victories as a significant achievement.
Ten Doeschate concluded that the lessons from the series would prove valuable ahead of future overseas tours, particularly in England, where similar conditions are expected. India, he said, must become more tactically flexible if they want to maintain their dominance away from home.
