Team India fielding coach T Dilip is unlikely to receive a contract extension ahead of the tour of Zimbabwe. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly planning a fresh start in the fielding department after a noticeable decline in the Men in Blue's fielding standards in recent months.
Following the white-ball series against England, Team India will play a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The Men in Blue, led by Shubman Gill, recently suffered a 2-1 defeat during the ODI series after failing to chase 388 at Lord's. They also lost the T20I series 4-0 under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer.
T Dilip Unlikely to Receive Contract Extension Ahead of Zimbabwe Tour
T Dilip's extended stint will end before the series in Zimbabwe. Dilip joined the Indian support staff under former head coach Rahul Dravid and quickly became a popular figure in the dressing room.
He started the 'Best Fielder Medal' tradition. He was the only support staff member retained after Rahul Dravid, Vikram Rathour, and Paras Mhambrey left following India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. After the 2025 Champions Trophy, he received a one-year extension, but he is unlikely to get another extension.
According to sports journalist Rohit Juglan, T Dilip's extended stint as fielding coach has ended, and he will not travel with the team for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour.
"T. Dilip's extended stint as fielding coach has officially come to an end. He is not travelling with the team to Zimbabwe. Another extension is unlikely as per sources. But what a contribution after R Sridhar," Juglan wrote.
T. Dilip’s extended stint as fielding coach has officially come to an end - He is not travelling with the team to Zimbabwe
— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) July 21, 2026
Another extension unlikely as per sources
But what a contribution after R Sridhar pic.twitter.com/IJJjZTv6H7
India's Fielding Woes Force BCCI to Move On From T Dilip
T Dilip was set to be dismissed after the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy but was reversed after Rohit Sharma appealed to Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI in May 2025.
The BCCI has made the decision after India's repeated fielding mistakes in recent months. Despite winning the 2026 T20 World Cup, India struggled badly in the field.
The team dropped 15 catches during the tournament, the most by any side. India also recorded a catching efficiency of just 72%, the lowest among all participating teams.
The fielding issues first surfaced during last year's Asia Cup and continued throughout the recent white-ball tour of England. India failed to improve despite several opportunities. The tour ended on a disappointing note as India lost the final ODI at Lord's by 27 runs.
VVS Laxman to Coach Second-String Squad in Zimbabwe Series
Following the tour of England, Team India arrived in Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series starting on Thursday, July 23. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has been rested for the tour, with VVS Laxman taking charge as the stand-in head coach.
Shreyas Iyer will lead the Indian squad, while Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain. The young side will look to bounce back after a disappointing T20I series against England, where it failed to register a single win.
The selectors recalled wicketkeeper Prabhsimran Singh, who returns to the T20I setup for the first time since the 2023 Asian Games. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav is also back after a two-year absence.
Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur have earned their maiden international call-ups. All three T20Is will be played at the Harare Sports Club on July 23, 25, and 26, with matches starting at 4:30 PM IST.
