Team India’s recent victory in the opening Test against Bangladesh at Chennai saw not just some brilliant batting and bowling performances from the hosts, but also exceptional fielding performances that were lauded by the fielding coach, T Dilip. India’s fielding coach picked four standout players who have significantly raised India’s fielding standards.
In the Chennai Test, Indian fielders shown their abilities in difficult circumstances. It was difficult to keep up a high level of energy and quick reactions over the entire match given the extreme heat and humidity of the state. Nonetheless, a few players had outstanding performances on the pitch, winning over both the coaching staff and the onlookers. Dilip pointed out four players in particular that were exceptional.
He started by naming Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made two catches throughout the contest. The game’s highlight came from the southpaw’s amazing catch at the gully to remove Bangladeshi opener Zakir Hasan from Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling in the second innings. Additionally, he caught Shakib Al Hasan with a crisp low grab at the backward short leg.
“Over the course of the series, Jaiswal has demonstrated remarkable athleticism and quick reflexes. His beautiful catch at short leg and his spectacular catch at gully pleased the coaching staff. It is difficult for me to speak about it honestly, but as of right now, it is clear that Yashasvi Jaiswal is making a lot of progress in that area thanks to his outstanding gully catch and his beautiful short leg catch,” Dilip remarked in a BCCI TV discussion.
Check out what all T Dilip has to say for Indian players here:
As @ashwinravi99 likes to describe him 😃👇#TeamIndia “celebrity” fielding coach – T Dilip reacts to some splendid catches from the 1st #INDvBAN Test 👌👌 – By @RajalArora
WATCH 🎥🔽 @IDFCFIRSTBankhttps://t.co/rFSjCXkQyx
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 24, 2024
With Virat Kohli, won’t find any differences between in practice and match: T Dilip
Star hitters Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were also complimented by Team India’s fielding coach for displaying exceptional athleticism on the pitch. Positioned in the slip cordon and mid-on, respectively, both hitters made the catch appear effortless. In particular. Regarding Kohli, Dilip reiterated that the veteran player practices with the same fervour during training sessions in addition to displaying it during games. Thus, this distinctive quality of the great hitter makes him stand out from the crowd and motivates colleagues to emulate Kohli’s enthusiasm.
“Rahul has been playing good fielding, particularly with his rapid reflexes demonstrated by his quick catch at mid-on. He continued, “KL Rahul’s catch at mid-on was impressive since he shown excellent reflexes.
Kohli’s fielding consistently stands out, demonstrating his passion and dedication to the game. He leads by example for his colleagues by practicing with the same fervour that he plays. There are no distinctions between Virat Kohli’s on-field style and his practise style. He went on, “In the practice session, he replicates the same intensity that he does in the match.
T Dilip also discussed Mohammed Siraj, India’s top pacer, and his performance in the just finished Test match against Bangladesh. Apart from the fact that the Hyderabad-born bowler was more prone to injuries, he was also impressed by his efforts in the difficult Chennai conditions. Even though the pacer is a quick bowler and occasionally needs to throw longer stints, he was praised for the way he hurled himself about the pitch.
Also Read: Ravichandran Ashwin exposes the vast contrast between Gautam Gambhir’s and Rahul Dravid’s coaching philosophies
“Siraj has demonstrated an amazing commitment to fielding, particularly given the difficult circumstances in Chennai. His willingness to dive and make challenging catches shows how committed he is. These are execution-wise, but Siraj went above and beyond in terms of effort, particularly given the conditions in Chennai. It’s very commendable for a quick bowler to do that,” he said.