In a surprising turn of events, T Dilip has been reinstated as the fielding coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, just weeks after his exit from the role. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which had also relieved batting coach Abhishek Nayar of his duties around the same time, struggled to find a suitable replacement for Dilip and ultimately decided to bring him back. He will resume responsibilities beginning with India’s upcoming five-Test series in England, which kicks off on June 20.
As per reports, this decision was heavily influenced by Rohit Sharma. The veteran opener, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, was instrumental in persuading head coach Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI to retain Dilip. According to the publication, Rohit made a direct request to Gambhir to reappoint the Hyderabadi coach, who has now been handed a one-year contract.
“Dilip is a good coach, who served the team well for over three years (from 2021). He knows most of these cricketers very closely. So, to have him on board for a big series (vs England) will do the team only good,” a source close to the development told PTI. Another insider noted, “So, there is no point in bringing in a fresh name at this stage, and Dilip is very popular with players too.”
The BCCI had reportedly explored foreign candidates for the fielding coach role but could not identify an appropriate choice in time. Dilip’s earlier stint had earned him popularity within the team and among fans, partly due to his creative initiative of awarding “fielding medals” to top performers after each match.
India will head into the England tour with a new leadership setup, as Shubman Gill takes over the Test captaincy with Rishabh Pant as his deputy. This high-stakes series also marks the beginning of the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. Meanwhile, India A will get the ball rolling with a couple of unofficial Test matches from May 30, providing valuable preparation ahead of the marquee series.
