Cricket

Anton Roux, Sri Lanka's national fielding coach, has announced his resignation from the role, effective August 14, 2024. Roux, a former first-class cricketer for South Africa and coach for the Netherlands, joined Sri Lanka Cricket in March 2022.In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, Roux expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Sri Lankan national cricket team. He highlighted the team's resilience and unity during challenging times, particularly during their historic series win against Australia on home soil.Roux's tenure as fielding coach witnessed significant achievements for Sri Lanka. The team reached two Asia Cup finals, winning the 2022 Asia T20 Cup. He also praised the progress of the Sri Lanka Women's Cricket Team, commending their passion and athleticism.Roux acknowledged the support of Mahela Jayawardene, Tom Moody, Tim McCaskill, and Chris Silverwood for entrusting him with the responsibility of overseeing the fielding duties. He expressed his deep respect and appreciation for Sri Lanka and its people, stating that the country holds a special place in his heart.Roux's final international game as Sri Lanka's fielding coach was the third and final Test at the Oval, where the visitors secured a memorable eight-wicket victory over England. This triumph marked Sri Lanka's first Test win over England in a decade.

P.R. Man Singh, the manager of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team, has urged the Telangana Government to recognize the contributions of T. Dilip, the fielding coach of the Indian team that recently triumphed in the T20 World Cup in the West Indies.Man Singh, who was the chief guest at a felicitation function for Dilip organized by Coaching Beyond, emphasized that Dilip's efforts, along with those of other support staff, played a crucial role in the team's victory. He highlighted that while players like Mohamed Siraj have been felicitated, it is equally important to acknowledge the behind-the-scenes contributions of support staff like Dilip.Reflecting on his own experience as the manager of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, Man Singh clarified that the iconic catch taken by Kapil Dev to dismiss Sir Viv Richards in the final was primarily due to the captain's efforts and not his own. He emphasized that in modern cricket, brilliant catches taken by players like Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav are the result of the collective hard work of the entire squad, especially the support staff.Dilip expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating that it was a great feeling to be on the winning side after years of hard work and passion. He acknowledged the support of John Manoj, R. Sridhar, and his fellow coaches and players throughout his journey.R. Sridhar, the former India fielding coach, revealed that Dilip had initially declined an offer to join the Andhra Ranji team as a fielding coach despite a lucrative salary package. Sridhar stated that Dilip's focus was solely on joining the National Cricket Academy (NCA) one day. Later, when Sridhar informed Dilip about the Indian fielding coach position, he initially thought it was a joke. However, Dilip eventually applied and outperformed Jhonty Rhodes, joining the India-A team under Rahul Dravid's mentorship.

Team India's fielding coach, TK Dilip, has attributed the team's success at the T20 World Cup to their exceptional fielding efforts. He believes that the iconic catch by Suryakumar Yadav to dismiss David Miller in the final was a testament to the team's belief in their abilities.Dilip, who hails from Hyderabad, played a pivotal role in India's fielding prowess. He introduced the fielding medal ceremony after every match, which has become a highly anticipated post-match event. The coach believes that fielding is as important as batting and bowling, and the medal ceremony helps recognize the contributions of fielders.Speaking about the team's mindset, Dilip said, "Everybody believed that we could do magic even in that situation." He emphasized that the team's unwavering belief in their abilities was a key factor in their victory.Dilip also highlighted the importance of adapting to different conditions. He explained that the team had to adjust to various grounds in the US, which presented unique challenges. However, the players' ability to adapt quickly played a crucial role in their success.The fielding coach praised the team's overall fielding performance, citing specific catches that changed the momentum of matches. He mentioned Axar Patel's catch against Australia, Matthew Wade's catch at short third, and Mohammed Siraj's catch at the boundary as examples of the team's exceptional fielding skills.Dilip's contract as India's fielding coach has ended along with that of coach Rahul Dravid and the support staff. He expressed his gratitude for the experience and the opportunity to work with the team. He said, "In my last 2-1/2 years with the team, Virat Kohli, Jadeja and others were still doing what they were doing all these years. Yes, they got better every day. That attitude also rubs on to youngsters."

Suryakumar Yadav, India's star batter, has revealed the thought process behind his match-winning catch of David Miller in the ICC T20 World Cup final against South Africa. Yadav initially aimed to save a boundary but credits fielding coach T Dilip for the crucial catch that helped India secure the title.Yadav, who played a pivotal role in India's World Cup campaign with 199 runs in eight games, made several stunning catches throughout the tournament. In the final over of the match, with South Africa needing 16 runs from six balls, Miller attempted a big shot. Yadav, positioned near the boundary, plucked a remarkable catch, first catching the ball and putting it in the air, crossing the boundary and returning inside quickly to complete the catch.Speaking to Revsportz, Yadav said, "When I started running, I was not thinking of the catch. I was running with every iota of strength in my legs to make sure I somehow saved the boundary. I wanted to throw the ball back in and save two or three runs at least for the team. And honestly, I was not thinking of the catch."Yadav admitted to being under pressure to complete the catch but emphasized the team's hard work on fielding under Dilip's guidance. "He has worked very hard with us, and each one of us has taken out 15 minutes during practice to train with him. As batters, we can contribute only in one department, and often fielding goes unnoticed. But here, each one of us has trained separately, and the results are showing. The catch, I will say, is a product of the work we have put in."In the final match, India opted to bat first and posted 176/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a counter-attacking partnership between Virat Kohli (76) and Axar Patel (47). South Africa's chase was hampered by early wickets, but a half-century by Heinrich Klaasen (52) threatened to take the game away from India. However, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya made a fine comeback in the death overs, restricting South Africa to 169/8.Kohli was named 'Player of the Match' for his performance, and India ended their ICC title drought of nearly 11 years.

Legendary South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, renowned for his exceptional fielding skills, is reportedly being considered for the role of India's next fielding coach. According to Revsportz, Rhodes' name has been circulating within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a potential candidate.Rhodes' fielding prowess during his playing career was unparalleled, earning him a reputation as one of the greatest fielders in cricket history. His acrobatic catches and lightning-fast reflexes made him a formidable presence on the field.While no formal approach has been made to Rhodes, his name has been discussed as the BCCI prepares to finalize India's next head coach. Rahul Dravid's tenure as head coach will conclude after the T20 World Cup 2024, and the BCCI is actively seeking his replacement.Former India batter Gautam Gambhir has emerged as the frontrunner for the head coach position. According to media reports, Gambhir has agreed to the BCCI's offer, subject to certain demands. The announcement of his appointment is expected in the coming days.Rhodes previously applied for the fielding coach position in 2019, but the BCCI opted to retain R Sridhar. However, with the support staff typically selected by the head coach, Gambhir's appointment could pave the way for Rhodes to join the Indian team.Meanwhile, Paras Mhambrey and T Dilip currently serve as India's bowling and fielding coaches, respectively. Gambhir is expected to bring his own support staff, potentially leading to changes in the team's coaching setup.