Not only batting and bowling, fielding also plays a crucial role in any team’s success and it has been the same for Rohit Sharma led side at the ongoing ODI World Cup.
Indian team has been in sensational form and demolished opposition to win eight out of eight matches at the World Cup 2023. During every game, a new hero has emerged for India in the fielding as he has been awarded with ‘Fielder of the Match’ medal in the dressing room after the end of the match.
The unique tradition of giving the best fielder medal has been introduced by T Dilip, India’s fielding coach. It aims to recognise and encourage the outstanding fielding performances of players at the mega event.
The medal presentation ceremony, during which Dilip gives speech with his motivational words, has become quite the centre of attention on social media.
Who is T Dilip ?
Before becoming India’s fielding coach, Dilip has had a fascinating journey. He has risen through the ranks after coaching in a state cricket academy’s junior age-group programme, serving as an assistant fielding coach in the now defunct IPL side Deccan Chargers.
According to a PTI report, Dilip has worked at various ZCA (Zonal Cricket Academy) and National Cricket Academy (NCA) age-group camps since 2012.
As far as players are concerned, he has worked with the likes of Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Yashashvi Jaiswal during his NCA days. He has also worked with senior players and his good work didn’t go unnoticed by erstwhile NCA director Rahul Dravid, who ensured that Dilip got regular India A assignments.
T Dilip’s Background
Interestingly, Dilip’s family never supported his cricketing ambitions. To continue his cricketing dreams, he gave part-time maths tuition to school kids to increase his income which would in turn help him to fund his own coaching.
For years, he was part of 150-day per year coaching contracts that used to be given at NCA.
Dilip also didn’t have great communication skills at once but he has worked on it over the years and is pretty much visible in dressing room speeches. Dilip’s speeches and the eloquence with which he describes the fielding effort of each of the players is a visual treat for everyone.
Dilip’s Effect on Bowlers
Most of the Indian batters have been traditionally good fielders over the years. However, it’s heartening for Indian cricket fans to see the improvement in the fielding of bowlers recently.
The likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and other bowlers are putting in their body on the line during the fielding and it’s only going to improve in years to come.