BCCI Faces Support Staff Crisis: Ten Doeschate and Morkel May Exit as Fielding Coach T Dilip Under Fire
Uncertainty Surrounds India's Coaching Staff
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is bracing for a potential shake-up in the national team's support staff following the conclusion of the ongoing tour of England. Reports indicate that assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and fast bowling coach Morne Morkel are considering stepping down from their roles once their contracts expire after the ODI series this month.
The instability comes shortly after head coach Gautam Gambhir handpicked the duo when he assumed charge in July 2024. According to a BCCI source, the reasons for the potential exits vary. "Doeschate isn’t very sure of continuing with this job. He has conveyed his problems with travelling with the team throughout the year. Morkel is still weighing his options," the source stated. There are further indications that ten Doeschate may be in discussions with an IPL franchise.
Contingency Plans and Future Tours
With a two-Test series in Sri Lanka scheduled for the first week of August, the BCCI is urgently trying to resolve these issues. If Morkel decides to leave, the board may turn to Lakshmipathy Balaji, who was recently appointed as the fast bowling coach at the Centre of Excellence (CoE), to lead the bowling attack in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, the team's schedule remains packed. VVS Laxman, the cricket head at the CoE, is expected to take his coaching staff for India's three-match T20I series in Zimbabwe during the last week of July.
Fielding Coach Under Pressure
The turmoil isn't limited to the departing staff. Fielding coach T Dilip is reportedly under significant pressure to save his job. The BCCI has expressed dissatisfaction with the team's deteriorating fielding standards, placing Dilip's position in jeopardy. This follows a precarious period for Dilip, who was granted a reprieve last year after being sacked alongside former batting coach Abhishek Nayar.
The BCCI continues to emphasize the importance of its coaching pipeline at the CoE, as seen in the transition from Abhishek Nayar to Sitanshu Kotak as batting coach last year.