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Fielding coach T. Dilip in spotlight as India’s dropped catches raise alarms

Kaushik Kashyap

T Dilip in spotlight amid India's Fielding crisis. [Source - BCCI/SonyLiv/x.com]T Dilip in spotlight amid India's Fielding crisis. [Source - BCCI/SonyLiv/x.com]

India stormed into the Asia Cup final, thrashing every opponent with dominant displays in both batting and bowling department. Yet, amid this supremacy, one glaring weakness has surfaced-fielding.

What was once a department India boasted with pride, has suddenly become a concern, with dropped chances and sloppy misfields piling up throughout the tournament. As a result, the focus has turned to fielding coach T. Dilip, who finds himself under scrutiny to raise standards.

12 drop catches and counting for India

The numbers paint a troubling picture after what transpired in the latest Super 4 outing against Bangladesh, where India dropped five opportunities, pushing their tally to a staggering 12 drops in the competition, a pretty unusual for a side ranked among the best in the world.

Only Hong Kong, with a catching success rate below 70 percent, has fared similarly with dropping 10-plus catches. For India, whose bowlers have delivered admirably and batsmen, mostly top-order, have shown authority, such lapses have been overshadowed. But it is no rocket science that against elite opposition, these mistakes could prove very vital.

Other reasons have also floated around, with many pointing to the tricky floodlights at the Dubai stadium. Even players like Varun Chakravarthy have acknowledged the challenge of judging balls under the night sky at the ring of fire. However, a team aspiring to be world-beaters cannot lean on conditions as a shield. The expectation is clear, India must adapt and overcome anything on the field.

Dilip Faces Pressure to Lift India’s Fielding

So far, Suryakumar Yadav’s men have not suffered because their batting and bowling depth has compensated for these shortcomings. But with the final looming, and tougher contests in future global events, there is no margin for error.

Notably, team India's fielding coach, T. Dilip’s position has drawn attention after the team's recent struggle in the fielding department against Bangladesh as his contract was initially not set for renewal. Released after the Champions Trophy earlier this year, his role seemed uncertain, yet he has continued to guide India’s fielding unit.

Dilip made his way back into the set-up ahead of the England tour, resuming responsibilities despite the earlier exit. His task now is to enhance the fielding quality of the men in blue, instill sharper reflexes, improved concentration, and discipline, ensuring India does not have to fall short in any big games in future due to mistakes in the fielding department.