Former Netherlands all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate has returned to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) setup after concluding his stint with the Indian men's cricket team. The franchise has appointed him as its Head of Cricket Strategy, where he will oversee long-term planning, player recruitment and talent development across KKR's global teams.

His appointment comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to extend the tenure of assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip, bringing their association with the Indian team to an end.

New Strategic Role Across Global Franchises

In his new position, ten Doeschate will lead KKR's cricket strategy across its international franchise network. His responsibilities will include scouting, talent identification, player recruitment, squad planning and performance evaluation.

He will also work closely with coaching and analytics teams to establish a consistent cricket philosophy across all Knight Riders franchises.

Apart from his strategic responsibilities, ten Doeschate will serve as assistant coach for:

• Trinbago Knight Riders (Caribbean Premier League)

• Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ILT20)

• Los Angeles Knight Riders (Major League Cricket)

"Unique Opportunity": Ten Doeschate

Reacting to his appointment, ten Doeschate described the role as an exciting opportunity to contribute to the long-term growth of the Knight Riders group.

He said the position would allow him to strengthen scouting and player development systems while helping build a sustainable cricket strategy across multiple leagues and franchises.

Strong Association With KKR

Ryan ten Doeschate has enjoyed a long relationship with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

As a player, he was part of KKR's Indian Premier League title-winning squads in 2012 and 2014. He later returned as a member of the coaching staff and was part of the support team when Kolkata lifted their third IPL trophy in 2024.

His familiarity with the franchise and its working culture played a significant role in his latest appointment.

KKR CEO Welcomes Appointment

Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore welcomed ten Doeschate's return, stating that his deep understanding of the franchise's philosophy and extensive experience in both international and franchise cricket make him an ideal choice for the newly created strategic role.

The appointment reflects KKR's continued focus on strengthening its global cricket operations and ensuring a unified approach across its expanding portfolio of teams.