The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reappointed T Dilip as the fielding coach of the Indian cricket team, granting him a one-year temporary extension. According to a report by Cricbuzz, ODI captain Rohit Sharma played a significant role in influencing this decision.
Just last month, the BCCI had relieved three members of the support staff—assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, fielding coach T Dilip, and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai—following India’s disappointing performance in the recent Test series against Australia.
T Dilip previously served as fielding coach under former head coach Rahul Dravid. Although Dravid and his team stepped down after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the BCCI had extended Dilip’s contract beyond that period.
Rohit Sharma Plays Key Role in T Dilip’s Reappointment as Fielding Coach
According to reports, India’s ODI captain Rohit Sharma played a crucial role in convincing head coach Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI to reinstate T Dilip as the national team’s fielding coach. Rohit Sharma is said to have personally spoken with Gambhir and senior BCCI officials to push for Dilip’s return.
Dilip, who shares a strong rapport with Sharma, was previously part of the Indian setup during their victorious T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025 campaigns. The Hyderabad-based coach has been instrumental in shaping India’s fielding unit in recent years.
Dilip is now set to rejoin the Indian team for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, which begins on June 20 and concludes in the first week of August.
Initially, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate was expected to take over fielding responsibilities. However, with Dilip’s return, Doeschate will continue in his role as assistant coach. Rohit Sharma, Reports also suggest that the BCCI had explored the option of appointing a foreign fielding coach but failed to find a suitable candidate.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. In his absence, Shubman Gill has been named India’s new Test captain, with Rishabh Pant appointed as the vice-captain in the red-ball format.