"It was the best effort" - T Dilip picks Team India’s 'Jonty Rhodes' after T20 World Cup 2026 win

Team India fielding coach T Dilip has revealed the name of the 'Jonty Rhodes' of the current side after winning the T20 World Cup 2026 title in Ahmedabad. The veteran coach praised star all-rounder Axar Patel for taking an impossible catch during the crucial semi-final clash against the dangerous England side.

The Men in Blue defeated New Zealand by 96 runs on Sunday, March 8. Sanju Samson (89 runs) scored his third consecutive half-century. He had scored 97 against the West Indies and 89 against England. Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shivam Dube helped India post a mammoth total of 255 runs.

Indian Fielding Coach T Dilip Reveals Team India's 'Jonty Rhodes'

T Dilip has witnessed the team win the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups alongside the Champions Trophy. During a recent interview with NDTV, he expressed satisfaction watching the fabulous catches. He praised head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav for their leadership.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

"It all depends on the context. Axar's effort in the semi-final was the best. It is so pleasing to see the team come out trumps in crunch moments. The T20 World Cup win was like a family gathering," T Dilip told NDTV.

"Full credit to Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav for how they care for all members of the side. It's good leadership from both of them. Thanks to the BCCI, Rahul Dravid, and Gautam Gambhir for trusting me. We will see more aggressive fielding in the coming days."

Team India’s Fielding Concerns Despite T20 World Cup 2026 Triumph

The Indian team dropped a massive 15 catches in the recent tournament, the highest by any participating country. Their overall catching efficiency was the worst at just 72 percent, placing them even below Pakistan, who recorded 83 percent.

Shivam Dube dropped a sitter off Finn Allen during the final against New Zealand. However, it did not stop there, as India incredibly went on to drop two more easy chances that night. Another major tournament where India's fielding completely crumbled under pressure was the 2025 Asia Cup.

India went on to win the tournament, but the dropping of catches is a concern for the team, as sometimes dropped chances can cost matches and tournaments.

BCCI Must Review The Fielding Coaching Standards

During the Asia Cup 2025, the team dropped nine catches alone in the crucial Super 4 stage. T Dilip was fired but reinstated before that tournament.

He initially joined the national team setup back in November 2021 under former head coach Rahul Dravid, but the overall fielding standards have not really improved.

The players might practice hundreds of catches during training, but those efforts rarely translate into consistent on-field results.

Senior members reportedly wanted his inclusion, leading to a contract extension in 2025. Coaches cannot enter the playing area to catch balls, but the BCCI must carefully review these dropped-catch numbers soon.

Also read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi destined for greatness! England legend stamps him as cricket’s next big thing