India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate shared insights on the team’s combination ahead of their Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan, set to take place on Sunday, September 14, in Dubai. The defending champions began their campaign in dominant fashion on Wednesday, September 10, crushing the UAE by nine wickets while chasing a target of 58 with 93 balls remaining.
Addressing the media on Saturday, September 13, Doeschate hinted that India are expected to stick with the same playing XI, pointing out that the pitches so far haven’t presented any significant challenges or reasons to alter the lineup. He stated:
“I don’t think we gleaned too much information from that first game, and even from the other games at the stadium so far, there hasn’t been much to take away. So, it’s unlikely we’ll make changes. I think the biggest takeaway is probably the difference compared to when we played in the Champions Trophy, where the wickets played a bit differently. But we feel the combination for the first game was the right set-up.”
He also addressed the middle-order challenge, saying the team plans to back adaptable players who can handle different roles. The 45-year-old added:
“And what you mean from three to seven are batting positions. It wasn’t shown the other day with Sanju not batting, but our focus is on versatile players who can adapt to situations and bat anywhere. We’re lucky with Sanju, Axar, and Hardik as they can slot from the top order to seven or eight. That versatility is part of our strategy.”
“India Have The Edge” — Ryan ten Doeschate Backs Men In Blue As Favourites Ahead Of Pakistan Clash
In the same interaction, Ryan ten Doeschate praised the team’s outstanding performances over the last 12 months and stated that India will go into their Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan as the favourites. He said:
“Yeah, I mean, that short-term record is pretty incredible, and we’ve been very consistent in how we’ve played. Obviously, cricket at this level is about how you execute on the day. But yeah, being totally honest and looking at the recent form and how the teams have played, I would say India do start as favourites tomorrow.”
“But we’ll be focused on the 120 balls with the bat and 120 with the ball, and the team more consistent over those 240 balls will be better. We’re under no illusion about the task ahead, and a big part of what we’re trying to do is staying grounded and focusing on getting better, with individuals improving every day. Form counts for very little when you come to regional competitions like this,” he added.
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