Ten Doeschate reveals careful coaching talk with Virat Kohli

Former India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has revealed he carefully planned an intervention to speak with Virat Kohli during India’s 2024-25 tour of Australia, where Kohli repeatedly fell to drives outside off stump. Ten Doeschate told the talkSPORT Cricket podcast that many coaches are afraid to make such interventions, fearing it could be seen as interfering or job-justifying. He said he approached Kohli during the fourth Test, and the batter was ‘brilliant’ about it and ‘actually wanted someone to chat to him’.

Ten Doeschate acknowledged that challenging a player of Kohli’s stature can be ‘dangerous for you as a coach’, and that getting the wording and delivery right is crucial. He said Kohli explained his reasoning, making it a discussion rather than a one-sided instruction. News9live.com noted Kohli retired from Test cricket in 2025 and finished the series with 190 runs at 23.75, dismissed eight times edging outside-off deliveries.

Update, 9 November 2026: News9live.com now also reports the story, confirming ten Doeschate's podcast remarks. It adds that Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket in 2025 and that he scored 190 runs at 23.75 in the series, being dismissed eight times edging outside-off deliveries.