India's Overseas T20 Struggles 'Underachieving', Says Ryan ten Doeschate

By Kartik Sharma | Data Analyst & Reporter

3 defeats in 3 completed matches against England and 2 more against Ireland have turned India's overseas T20 campaign into a major talking point. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admits the reigning T20 world champions are "underachieving" away from home and says the squad must quickly adapt if it wants to challenge for the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia.

The Dutchman delivered a candid assessment after England secured the five-match series with a dominant nine-wicket victory in the fourth T20I at Bristol. India's batting again struggled against seam movement and bounce, leaving the visitors trailing 3-0 with one game remaining. Rather than blaming conditions alone, ten Doeschate said the team first needs to acknowledge the scale of its overseas problems before it can solve them.

Ryan ten Doeschate calls for a change in mentality

Speaking after the defeat, ten Doeschate said accepting the current reality is the first step towards improvement. India, he argued, cannot rely solely on the aggressive methods that have brought success on flatter surfaces at home.

"Psychologically and mentally the challenge for the group is to accept the fact that we are underachieving in foreign conditions."

The assistant coach said the bigger objective lies beyond this series. With the next men's T20 World Cup scheduled in Australia, he believes the team must prepare for conditions similar to those currently challenging them in England.

He questioned whether India should be satisfied with posting huge totals on batting-friendly pitches at home or become a side capable of succeeding in Manchester, Southampton and eventually Melbourne.

Batting approach remains the biggest concern

India's struggles have followed a clear trend throughout the tour. After losing both T20Is in Ireland, the batting unit has continued to find life difficult against high-quality pace in England.

Ten Doeschate pointed to England's fast bowlers, particularly Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue, as examples of the challenge India's batters have failed to adjust to.

He explained that slower pitches with extra bounce require different methods from those used on flatter Indian wickets. According to the assistant coach, the players understand those differences in theory but have not translated them into performances in the middle.

Instead of criticising individual techniques, he stressed the need for quicker tactical adaptation whenever overseas conditions demand it.

Performance comparison

  1. 1. Ireland T20I series: India lost 2-0.
  2. 2. England T20I series: England lead 3-0 after four matches.
  3. 3. Fourth T20I: England chased 159 with nine wickets in hand.
  4. 4. Series outlook: India are attempting to avoid a 5-0 whitewash in Southampton. 

    Those numbers underline why India's overseas T20 record has suddenly come under intense scrutiny.

Shreyas Iyer earns backing despite series defeat

While India's overall performances have disappointed, ten Doeschate singled out captain Shreyas Iyer for praise.

The assistant coach noted that Iyer has been India's most consistent batter during the tour despite not being part of the squad that lifted the ICC Men's T20 World Cup earlier in the year.

He also urged patience with Iyer's captaincy, arguing that leadership transitions take time and should not be judged solely on one difficult overseas tour.

Ten Doeschate acknowledged that changing captains after consecutive series defeats would invite strong public opinion but insisted long-term planning remains more important than reacting emotionally to short-term setbacks.

Preparation and missing senior players add context

The coach also highlighted India's limited preparation before travelling to Ireland and England.

Following a packed calendar that included the T20 World Cup, IPL and Afghanistan series, India had only a handful of practice days before beginning the overseas leg.

Ten Doeschate said ideal preparation would have included more time to train specifically for seam-friendly conditions, while adding that players also needed rest after a demanding schedule.

He believes those factors contributed to the slow adaptation shown during the tour, though he stopped short of using them as excuses for the defeats.

England lead3-0 in the five-match T20I series.
Ireland series resultIndia lost 2-0.
Fourth T20I resultEngland won by 9 wickets.
Next matchFifth T20I, Southampton, 11 July 2026.

What Ryan ten Doeschate's comments mean

Ten Doeschate's remarks represent one of India's strongest public acknowledgements that overseas T20 performances have fallen below expectations despite recent global success.

He also pointed towards the future, saying the eventual return of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya would significantly strengthen the side. Even so, he maintained that personnel alone will not solve the problem without a shift in mindset and faster adaptation to overseas conditions.

India now have one final opportunity in Southampton to end the series on a positive note before attention turns to the ODI leg of the England tour.

The bigger question remains statistical rather than emotional: can India improve from five straight overseas T20 defeats before the road to Australia gathers pace?