India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted there was “a little bit of disbelief” in the dressing room after Ireland stunned the reigning T20 World Cup champions with a historic 2-0 T20I series victory, ending India’s remarkable 16-series unbeaten streak in the shortest format.
The unexpected defeat also marked another major setback under head coach Gautam Gambhir, coming less than two years after India’s 12-year unbeaten home Test series record came to an end.
Speaking after the series, ten Doeschate credited Ireland for executing their plans brilliantly while admitting India failed to adapt to the challenging conditions.
“There’s a little bit of disbelief. It’s hard to be critical of a team that has just won a World Cup, but we’ve been outdone by a side that simply did the basics much better,” he said.
India Failed to Adapt
According to ten Doeschate, India’s biggest weakness throughout the series was their inability to adjust to unfamiliar playing conditions after spending months playing T20 cricket in the subcontinent.
Ireland’s disciplined bowling attack consistently denied Indian batters the opportunity to score straight down the ground—an area where India struggled throughout both matches.
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“They never allowed us to hit straight. Across two matches, we only managed two straight sixes, both against spin. They executed their plans perfectly, and we couldn’t find answers,” he explained.
He also pointed to the windy conditions as a unique challenge but stressed that it should not be used as an excuse.
“When you’re presented with different conditions, you have to find different solutions. That’s the biggest lesson from this series.”
Aggressive Approach Will Continue
Despite the disappointing result, ten Doeschate insisted India will not abandon their aggressive batting philosophy, especially during the Powerplay.
India’s attacking intent has been one of the key reasons behind their recent T20 success, including back-to-back World Cup triumphs.
“It’s easy to say we should play safer, but if you never swing, you’ll never hit sixes. We don’t want to change our identity—we just need to make smarter decisions.”
Limited Preparation Not an Excuse
India’s preparation before the series was far from ideal. The team arrived only a few days before the opening match and managed just one training session, while another scheduled practice was washed out due to wet conditions.
Huge Praise for Ireland
However, ten Doeschate refused to blame the lack of preparation.
“Training more would have helped, but that’s no excuse. We simply have to adapt much quicker when we’re faced with different challenges.”
The former Netherlands international reserved special praise for Ireland, calling the series victory a massive achievement for a team that continues to receive limited opportunities against top-ranked nations.
“I honestly didn’t expect them to challenge us like this. Considering the experience and achievements of our players, what Ireland has done is incredibly impressive.”
He added that Ireland’s success came not through flashy cricket but by sticking to simple, effective plans.
“They weren’t trying to score 250. They were smart, disciplined, and made the most of every opportunity. They thoroughly deserved the series.”
Looking Ahead
While the defeat ends one of India’s longest unbeaten runs in T20 internationals, the coaching staff believes the series could prove to be a valuable learning experience ahead of future overseas tours, particularly in England, where similar conditions are expected.
India will now focus on improving their adaptability while maintaining the fearless brand of cricket that has defined their recent success.
