3 contenders for India's fielding coach position

3 contenders for India's fielding coach (Source - Twitter/X)

India have been dropping quite a few catches of late, including the first innings of the first Test against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley, Leeds. Some fans have suggested that India need to bring in a new fielding coach to improve their fielding standards.

T Dilip is the current fielding coach of the Indian team. He has done a decent job since starting his work with the Men in Blue in 2021. He was the only one retained in the support staff after Gautam Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid as India's head coach in 2024. However, Dilip was sacked after India's triumph in the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

This was a minor setback for Dilip, who returned to the role amid the Indian Premier League (IPL), as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly failed to find a suitable replacement.

On that note, let's take a look at possible names who could replace Dilip as India's new fielding coach down the line.

3 contenders for Indian cricket team's fielding coach: Mohammad Kaif Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

Mohammad Kaif is regarded as one of the finest fielders Indian cricket has ever seen. He was electric on the field, having cat-like reflexes and a tremendous sense of anticipation.

Kaif has experience in coaching, as he was named the assistant coach of Brad Hodge at Gujarat Lions during IPL 2017. Later, Delhi Capitals appointed him as a coach and mentor for a few seasons. Kaif's aggressive mindset and never-say-die attitude could stand India in good stead.

2. Jonty Rhodes

Jonty Rhodes served as the fielding coach of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025. He is one of the best fielders to have ever played the game of cricket. Rhodes was one of the first fielders to win matches for his team with his athleticism on the field. The South African cricketer used to save many runs while fielding at backward point and also took some breathtaking catches and effected crucial runouts.

Rhodes has years of coaching experience under his belt. Before working for LSG, Rhodes also served as a fielding coach and later a batting coach at Punjab Kings. The Pietermaritzburg-born also signed a contract with the Swedish Cricket Federation in September 2020 ahead of moving to Sweden on a permanent basis. He also has the experience of coaching Pokhara Avengers in the inaugural edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2024.

1. Yuvraj Singh Yuvraj Singh of India. (Photo by Ashley Allen/LatinContent/Getty Images)

Yuvraj Singh doesn't have the experience of coaching a team, however, he has been the mentor of the current India opener in T20I cricket, Abhishek Sharma, and India's new Test captain, Shubman Gill. Yuvraj is another Indian fielder who made the backward point position his own. He took some of the most exhilarating catches while fielding at the position. The Chandigarh-born also had the ability to anticipate where the ball would come, and he had the knack of hitting the stumps directly with his accurate throws.

Yuvraj combined agility with precision during his days as a cricketer. He was also a good fielder in the outfield, covering ground quickly and launching accurate throws. Yuvraj also had the ability to thrive under pressure and his experience would come in handy for the Indian team. Current India coach Gambhir also shares great camaraderie with the 43-year-old and has often called him the greatest white-ball player to have represented India. They could build up a remarkable working relationship and take Indian cricket forward.