T Dilip is the only coach to have remained in the Indian coaching team headed by Rahul Dravid in the Gautam Gambhir era. Dravid stepped down as India’s head coach after winning the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies.

Well, Dravid’s assistants – batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and fielding coach T Dilip – were also left scratching their heads with the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.

T Dilip deserved another extension as India’s fielding coach: R Sridhar

However, the new head coach Gambhir retained Dilip as India’s spinner as the latter had the strong backing of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Indian selectors. He joined the Indian team in 2021, replacing R Sridhar who worked with the team for seven years.

Reacting to the BCCI granting Dilip an extension as fielding coach, Sridhar said the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning coach has done a commendable job, helping the Indian cricket team maintain its high fielding standards and given that he deserved another extension in his role.

R Sridhar told IANS: “It is a credit to Dilip that he has been nominated as the fielding coach of the team again. It shows the great work he has done, the work that is done behind the scenes. A lot of coaches work hard and a lot of support staff work hard behind the scenes to ensure that the players can create so much magic on the field.”

Sridhar added: “Everyone in that World Cup-winning team, be it Vikram (Rathour), Paras (Mhambrey), Dilip and of course, everyone knows what Rahul (Dravid) has contributed. The rest of the support staff, the support staff who never give up, the strength and conditioning specialists, the physiotherapists, the masseurs, the pitching specialists, everyone has contributed to the success of the team.”

T. Dilip will definitely do a great job with Gautam Gambhir: R Sridhar

The former fielding coach mentioned that Dilip introduced a competitive element in the Indian dressing room by bringing the unique fielding medal for the best fielder in the game. He said that Dilip’s idea has improved the team’s performance on the field and said, “That’s why he has been deservedly given an extension.”

However, Sridhar said that Dilip does not need to do anything different under Gambhir’s leadership, stressing that he just needs to continue with what he has been doing since he joined the team. Well, the former fielding coach admitted that Dilip needs to understand the vision of the new head coach.

He signed off by saying, “I am sure with the experience he has, with the rapport he has with the players, he will do a great job.” Notably, Dilip is currently in Sri Lanka with the Men in Blue for the limited-overs series, which begins on July 27. It is Gambhir’s first assignment as India’s head coach.