India’s fielding coach, T. Dilip, recently provided an inside look at the Indian cricket team’s rigorous fielding drills in preparation for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh. With the first Test set to begin at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on September 19, the players are leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for a challenging Test season.
The Rohit Sharma-led side has already held several practice sessions, braving Chennai’s hot and humid conditions. Dilip offered insights into these sessions in a video shared by the BCCI on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle, emphasizing the team’s focus on building intensity and cohesiveness.
T. Dilip explained that the training included a competitive catching drill designed to push the players’ limits. “Today’s session aimed to bring everyone together for a team drill. We split the squad into two groups for a catching competition. Given the humidity in Chennai, we kept the volume low but ensured the intensity remained high,” he said. The competition was fierce, with Virat Kohli’s team eventually emerging victorious.
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Further into the video, Dilip outlined the different drills tailored for various players. Bowlers and all-rounders concentrated on both outfield and infield catching, as well as attacking ground fielding. Meanwhile, batters focused on slip catching, along with close-in reflex training for positions like short leg and silly point.
Intensity 🔛 point 😎🏃♂️
Fielding Coach T Dilip sums up #TeamIndia‘s competitive fielding drill 👌👌 – By @RajalArora #INDvBAN | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/eKZEzDhj9A
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 16, 2024
“We divided into two batches: bowlers and all-rounders worked on catching and ground fielding, while the batter’s group practiced in the slip cordon and close-in catching,” T Dilip elaborated. He also praised the team’s high energy throughout the drills despite the challenging weather. “It was a fantastic session, especially in the hot sun. One great aspect of this team is that, regardless of the conditions, their intensity across all stations remained top-notch.”
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Interestingly, T. Dilip is the only member of Rahul Dravid’s coaching staff retained during the transition to Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as head coach. His approach to enhancing India’s fielding standards, including introducing the fielding medal ceremony, has received widespread appreciation.
India is gearing up for their first Test cricket appearance since the England series earlier this year, while Bangladesh enters the contest fresh off a historic Test series win against Shan Masood’s Pakistan side.
