Ryan ten Doeschate’s Cold Reply to Pakistan’s ‘Best Spinner’ Claim Before Asia Cup Showdown!

• India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate dismissed Pakistan coach Mike Hesson’s claim of Mohammad Nawaz being the “best spinner in the world.”
• Doeschate stressed India’s confidence in spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel.
• He also addressed Pakistan’s new T20 approach, sans Rizwan and Babar, saying India has plans in place.
• India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash takes place in Dubai on September 14.

The hype surrounding the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 showdown in Dubai just got a little spicier. On the eve of the September 14 clash, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate offered a straightforward response to Pakistan’s assertion that left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz is the best in the world.

Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson had earlier hailed Nawaz as the “best spinner in the world,” especially after his standout performance in the recent T20I Tri-Series against Afghanistan and the UAE. Nawaz, who bagged 10 wickets in five matches including a five-for in the final, was named Player of the Series, further cementing his credentials.

But Doeschate, speaking to reporters at India’s pre-match press conference, didn’t bite into the hype.

“Spin is going to be very important in this competition. If anything, I don’t think it’s gripped as much as we anticipated, and certainly not like earlier this year when we were here. Both teams have quality spin options. As far as we’re concerned, we know the value of Varun, Axar, and Kuldeep. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but we’re happy with our attack,” he said.

India’s Spin Strength

India boasts a strong spin trio in Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel, with Washington Sundar in reserves. Each has played a critical role in India’s dominance in T20 cricket over the past 18 months. The Dutch-born assistant coach highlighted that spin, while key in UAE conditions, is only one of several decisive factors.

Pakistan’s Changing Guard

Pakistan, under Hesson, has taken a new path in T20 cricket, notably leaving out stalwarts Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan since December last year. This shift has fueled debates, with critics questioning the move and fans wondering if it weakens their batting.

Doeschate admitted Pakistan’s direction is bold but insisted India is ready.

“It’s pretty obvious you’re referring to quality cricketers, but Pakistan wants to go a different way. We’ve done our homework on the new guys. They’re inexperienced but dangerous in how they want to play. We’ve got strategies in place to counter that,” he explained.

India Still Favorites

With India coming off a strong run of consistency, Doeschate acknowledged the Men in Blue as “favorites” on paper but refused to underestimate Pakistan.

“Looking at recent form, India do start as favorites. But at this level, it’s all about execution on the day. We’re under no illusion about the challenge. The team that handles the 240 balls better will win,” he added.

Squads in Focus

India will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, backed by young stars Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma, along with experienced campaigners Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. Pakistan, captained by Salman Ali Agha, will rely on Shaheen Afridi’s pace, Fakhar Zaman’s flair, and Nawaz’s spin to trouble their arch-rivals.

As anticipation builds for one of world cricket’s biggest rivalries, Doeschate’s calm and confident demeanor underlined India’s readiness. While Pakistan hypes up Nawaz, India is banking on its depth, balance, and proven track record to deliver yet another iconic performance.