Jonty Rhodes Likely To Replace T Dilip As India’s New Fielding Coach: Reports

New Delhi: Former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes is in line to become India’s new fielding coach, according to reports. Rhodes is currently the fielding coach of Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League. Although Rhodes is yet to be formally approached, he is believed to be one of the names doing rounds in BCCI headquarters. T Dilip is currently the fielding coach of the Indian team. The development of a new fielding coach comes after Gautam Gambhir is set to replace Rahul Dravid as India’s new head coach. The announcement of Gambhir as the new man at helm is believed to be made by the end of June.

With Gambhir coming in, he is likely to bring his own coaching staff, just like Dravid did in 2021. When Dravid became India’s head coach, he brought Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach) and Dilip along with him. Incidentally, both Gambhir and Rhodes have worked together at LSG. Before that, the South African was associated with five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians.

For the unknown, Rhodes had applied for the same position at the Indian team back in 2019. However, things didn’t work out that time as R Sridhar was re-appointed as India’s fielding coach under Ravi Shastri. Rhodes is widely considered to be one of the greatest fielders the game has ever produced.

Things will become a bit spicy if Dilip re-applies for the position once again. A few days ago Dilip, during a press conference, had spoken about how bowlers have become better fielders during his time. Even, Mohammed Siraj winning two India’s Fielder of the Match awards in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 is a testament of that.

“It’s heartening to see the bowlers doing their fielding roles very well,” Dilip had said. “This adds a lot to the whole fielding group. We see bowlers standing in hot spots. This gives Rohit Sharma the versatility to keep good fielders in all positions.”