Gautam Gambhir has been excelling in his role as India’s head coach. Indian Cricket Team assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate recently shared the message Gambhir, conveyed to the players ahead of India’s high-profile clash against Pakistan. The sixth match of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, featuring India and Pakistan, is scheduled at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Asia Cup: The India vs Pakistan encounter promises to be one of the tournament’s most thrilling contests. With tensions between the two nations running high, it is expected to be a fiercely competitive match, and emotions on the field are likely to run strong.
Asia Cup In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, there were calls to boycott the India vs Pakistan match. However, the Indian government clarified its position, stating that while bilateral ties with Pakistan remain suspended, games involving both teams in multi-nation tournaments would proceed as planned.
Speaking about the build-up to the game, Ryan ten Doeschate acknowledged the uncertainty they faced. “The waiting period of knowing whether this [Asia Cup] was going to happen was the most frustrating part,” he said. “Once we got the green light, we focused entirely on preparing for the game like any other match. We haven’t approached this encounter differently, though we are, of course, aware of the strong sentiments involved.”
Asia Cup: “Gauti’s message was very professional” – Ryan Ten Doeschate on Gautam Gambhir’s guidance
“Gauti’s message was very professional, emphasizing not worrying about factors outside our control and staying emotion-free when approaching the cricket. The guys are professional enough, I’m sure.”
He added, “Everyone reacts differently to the broader situation [geopolitical tensions], but the core message has been to concentrate on cricket and focus on the game tomorrow.”
India began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign strongly, defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by nine wickets in their opening match. Meanwhile, Pakistan secured a 93-run win over Oman.
