Ryan ten Doeschate, India's assistant coach, is facing severe criticism for his recent comments regarding Rohit Sharma's form and Nitish Kumar Reddy's performance following India's defeat to New Zealand in the second ODI. The remarks, made after the match in Rajkot, have sparked controversy, with former Indian cricketers and fans alike expressing their disapproval.

Ten Doeschate suggested that Rohit Sharma "had not been as fluent as he has been" due to a lack of game time between series, despite Sharma's recent performances, including a strong showing in Australia and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Regarding Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ten Doeschate stated that despite opportunities, the young all-rounder "often ended up not doing a heck of a lot".

These comments have been met with strong reactions, particularly from former Indian cricketers. Priyank Panchal openly criticized Ten Doeschate, stating, "Terrible comments by Ten Doeschate on Rohit and Nitish. There's a reason foreign coaches don't succeed in India". Panchal's statement alludes to the idea that foreign coaches may lack the understanding needed to navigate relationships within the Indian team. He felt that the "blunt public criticism was harder to accept given the latter's record both as a player and coach".

Manoj Tiwary also slammed Ten Doeschate's comments, calling them "demoralising" and suggesting that the assistant coach should have considered the impact of his words, especially given Rohit Sharma's stature and contributions to Indian cricket. Tiwary highlighted that Rohit Sharma's achievements far outweigh any short-term dip in form and that such remarks from a member of the team management could negatively affect a player's confidence. Tiwary emphasized that Rohit "has given the nation so much happiness" and questioned why Ten Doeschate would make such comments while being part of the team. He further added, with respect to Ten Doeschate, that his international record isn't even 5% of what Rohit has achieved.

The controversy has ignited a debate about the role and responsibility of coaches, especially foreign coaches, in the Indian cricket setup. Some argue that cultural understanding and relationship management are crucial for success in the Indian cricketing environment. Others believe that constructive criticism is necessary for improvement, regardless of the coach's nationality. However, the timing and manner of Ten Doeschate's comments have been widely questioned, with many feeling that they were disrespectful to senior player Rohit Sharma and overly harsh on young Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Ten Doeschate's remarks have not been well received by fans on social media either, who have criticized him for disrespecting Rohit Sharma, especially considering his recent performances and legendary status. Similarly, some felt his criticism of Nitish Kumar Reddy was harsh, given the player has only featured in a few ODIs.

As the Indian team prepares for the series-deciding third ODI against New Zealand, the controversy surrounding Ten Doeschate's comments continues to brew, raising questions about team dynamics and the impact of coaching styles on player morale.