India assistant coach Ryan Doeschate shoots 'T20 WC on the back burners' remark after India lost 2nd ODI

India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, has clarified that the team’s primary focus remains on the present, despite the approaching T20 World Cup 2026. With the current ODI series against New Zealand deadlocked at 1-1 following the tourists' victory in Rajkot on Wednesday, the coaching staff is prioritizing the immediate challenge over long-term tournament preparation.

Team India hit pause on T20 World Cup prep, focus on ODI series vs NZ

The stakes for the ongoing series are high, as the final and deciding match is scheduled to take place in Indore this coming Sunday. While India is set to co-host the massive 20-team ICC T20 World Cup starting on February 7, ten Doeschate emphasized that the defending champions cannot afford to look too far ahead.

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By keeping the squad grounded in the "here and now," the assistant coach aims to ensure that distractions regarding the World Cup do not undermine their performance. He stressed the importance of maintaining intensity through the final ODI to secure a series win before shifting their attention to the global stage next month.

“There’s a real chance that you’re so focused on the World Cup that you think, ‘oh, these three games this week just come and go,’ and we don’t learn anything or put our best performances out there," Doeschate said at the post-match press conference.

Doeschate confirmed that the squad is maintaining a narrow, disciplined focus on the current series. Rather than treating these matches as mere warm-ups for future tournaments, the coaching staff views the immediate competition as the top priority for the group. The assistant coach further noted that every series carries significant weight for the individuals involved. Each game serves as a crucial opportunity for players to prove their form and secure their standing, ensuring that no one is looking past the task at hand.

"The World Cup is still a long way away, but (it's about) building from series to series and getting in good habits, so (we are) trying to manage both and put the excitement of the T20 World Cup just on the back burners for another few more days," Doeschate added.

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We’re very cautious and conscious about managing workload: Ryan Ten Doeschate

While the team is focused on winning the ongoing series, ten Doeschate also stressed on the need to manage the fitness and workload of T20 World Cup-bound players. He acknowledged that the coaching staff is being 'cautious and conscious' to ensure key players are protected from burnout or injury before the global tournament begins.

This balance is particularly delicate as the squad has already been hampered by several high-profile injuries. With key players like Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma already sidelined, the management is under pressure to maintain a competitive edge in the ODI series while simultaneously safeguarding the health of their remaining World Cup assets.

“We’re very cautious and conscious about not overworking them. But at the same time, we do want to protect the players heading to the T20 World Cup. You’ve got to be able to apply yourself to both situations, particularly with the two different sets of personnel we have. There’s no real excuse for not focusing on this," he concluded.