When does a coach risk damaging a player’s confidence by offering unsolicited technical advice, and when does staying silent amount to negligence? Ryan ten Doeschate, who served as India’s assistant coach, recently addressed this dilemma that confronts coaching staffs worldwide, using his direct experience with one of cricket’s greatest batters.
During India’s tour of Australia, Virat Kohli fell into a destructive pattern of dismissals while attempting drives outside the off stump. Rather than addressing the issue immediately before matches, ten Doeschate recognized that the timing, delivery method, and relationship foundation all determined whether intervention would help or backfire. His thoughtful approach offers practical lessons for coaches working with established performers across all levels of cricket.
The Reluctance Coaches Often Feel
Ten Doeschate acknowledged on the talkSPORT Cricket podcast that coaches frequently hesitate to question established players’ techniques, fearing they will appear to be justifying their own position or interfering unnecessarily. He articulated this tension directly: the challenge lies in distinguishing between helpful intervention and noise that confuses rather than clarifies. Many coaching staffs face this same situation when senior players struggle with recurring technical problems.
The concern runs deeper than mere workplace dynamics. Players operating at international level have developed their methods through years of success. A poorly timed or poorly worded suggestion can undermine their confidence precisely when they need stability, particularly if they face a world-class fast bowler immediately afterward.
Timing as a Strategic Tool
Ten Doeschate explained that approaching Kohli immediately before facing Mitchell Starc or another quality fast bowler would have been counterproductive. Raising concerns about technique right before a batter steps into a challenging situation plants doubt in their mind at exactly the wrong moment. Instead of focusing on execution, they begin overthinking their approach, consciously worrying about an issue that should operate on instinct.
The breakthrough came during the fourth Test when ten Doeschate waited for a rain break—a moment when Kohli’s focus naturally shifted away from immediate performance pressure. This created psychological space for genuine dialogue rather than a quick correction delivered under stress.
Building the Relationship Foundation First
Ten Doeschate emphasized that his existing relationship with Kohli made the conversation possible. He had invested time developing rapport and understanding, which meant Kohli could receive feedback without interpreting it as criticism or judgment. This foundation allowed the conversation to become collaborative rather than confrontational, with Kohli actively explaining his batting rationale rather than simply receiving instruction.
Kohli responded by articulating why he played in the manner he did, which then enabled ten Doeschate to explore adjustments within Kohli’s own framework. This represents a fundamentally different coaching model than imposing technical changes—instead, the coach works within the player’s philosophy and helps optimize it.
The Limits of Technical Intervention
Even when a coach delivers advice perfectly timed and sensitively worded, success is not guaranteed. Ten Doeschate acknowledged that despite their productive discussion, Kohli did not regain form during the remainder of the series. Sometimes recurring technical issues reflect deeper challenges that extend beyond what conversation alone can solve, or circumstances conspire against improvement regardless of how well coaching is executed.
Ten Doeschate’s candid reflection—that his intervention “didn’t deliver the results we wanted towards the back end of the series”—underscores that good coaching process does not automatically produce good outcomes. The value lay in the method, the respect shown, and the genuine exchange rather than in immediate statistical proof of effectiveness.
Lessons for Cricket Coaching at All Levels
Ten Doeschate concluded that if coaches can deliver difficult messages respectfully to a player of Kohli’s caliber, they can do so with any performer. The specific techniques—choosing the right moment, having built genuine relationship, framing observations as joint exploration rather than correction, and respecting the player’s own understanding of their approach—translate across contexts and skill levels.
This perspective challenges the notion that elite athletes require less coaching guidance or that intervention with established players must be minimized. Instead, it suggests that the coaching approach simply must evolve in sophistication. The stakes may be higher with international players, but the fundamental principles of communication, timing, and respect apply universally.
For fans questioning why coaching staffs sometimes appear passive when obvious technical issues emerge, ten Doeschate provides insight into the genuine professional risks coaches face. This does not excuse avoiding necessary conversations, but it illuminates why many coaches struggle with the balance between protection and intervention, and why some remain overcautious when directness would serve players better.
Sources and further reading
- "A lot of coaches are scared": Ryan ten Doeschate reveals how he approached Virat Kohli over batting struggles — cricketaddictor.com, 2026-11-09