Against all odds: India’s fielding coach T Dilip’s non-linear progression to the top

Fielding is not just an aspect of cricket; it is the game-changer that can have a huge impact on the outcome of a match or even a tournament.

While batting and bowling take the spotlight, fielding is just as, if not the most, important aspect. A stunning catch, a lightning-fast direct hit or a diving stop can change the momentum of a match in the blink of an eye.

Its impact extends far beyond national borders and determines the fate of players and teams.

The date is June 29, 2024. The venue is Kensington Oval, Barbados and the occasion is the final of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup.

It is a clash between a team that has come very close to winning the title in recent times and another team with a rich history of incredible talent, but who fail to show up at crucial moments, earning them the nickname ‘Chokers’.

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In Barbados, after a brilliant run to the final, it suddenly seemed as if a familiar script was unfolding. With the elusive World Cup title once again slipping from India’s grasp, Hardik Pandya was tasked by India captain Rohit Sharma with the daunting task of defending just 16 runs from the final over, against the hard-hitting David Miller of South Africa.

The weight of history was not lost at this point. An extraordinary century, a devastating bowling spell or a championship-winning catch are not just incidents in a match, especially a final. They could prove crucial to the story of the match.

A striking example of this is Kapil Dev’s remarkable catch to dismiss — arguably the greatest batsman the world has ever seen — Sir Viv Richards in the final of the 1983 World Cup. That one simple catch changed not only the course of the final, but also the fate of Indian cricket forever.

Cut to Barbados and in the thick of the action was a player who was heavily compared to Kapil for his all-round prowess. The aspirations of 1.5 billion Indians depended on Hardik and the pitch around him to deliver.

Miller began with purpose, chasing Hardik from the very first ball of the 20th over – a low, wide full toss outside off that went straight to the ground. On another day, the curtain would have fallen for India.

However, in an exciting turn of events, Suryakumar Yadav pulled off one of the most memorable catches in World Cup history. Racing from wide long-off, he expertly plucked the ball millimetres off the boundary pads with extraordinary precision.

As his momentum threatened to carry him over the ropes, the ace hitter had the presence of mind to throw the ball back into the air. He leapt back into the field of play and completed one of the most important catches of his career, all in a matter of seconds.

‘OUT’ said the giant screen. The cameras then focused directly on one man in particular in the Indian dugout, leaping and punching the air: India’s fielding coach, T. Dilip. Five balls later, it was time to say the words we could hardly believe – India were world champions.

Dilip’s hard work behind the scenes would go down in history as the difference between India lifting the trophy or ending up empty-handed again at an ICC tournament.

Locker room rituals

India’s 2023 World Cup campaign was marked by notable moments both on and off the ground. One of the most endearing was the fielding awards ceremony, a unique gathering in the Indian dressing room after every match.

The regular programming on BCCI TV took a fun twist with the addition of engaging behind-the-scenes footage of the field medal ceremony.

This was Dilip’s brainchild.

To recognise and reward exceptional performance on the field, he ensured that legends of the sport such as Sachin Tendulkar, Viv Richards and Dinesh Karthik were involved and even introduced a new kind of use of the spider cam.

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The idea was to boost team morale and celebrate the small moments that made India the big players in the run-up to the final.

“It’s about assessing attitude. There are statistics for catches taken and many boundaries stopped, but we look at the overall contribution.

An innings has 300 balls; how do you deal with that on the field? It’s not just about one brilliant catch, it’s about the overall effort,” Dilip said while introducing reporters to the ceremony during the ODI showpiece.

The artist

For Dilip, building morale was extra important given the trials and tribulations he had endured in his own career.

As an 11-year-old, Dilip — like many others his age — dreamed of one day wearing the national colours. However, many obstacles stood in his way, including the lack of financial help and support from his family. And then there was the fierce competition at the time.

“My journey has been quite challenging with a lot of ups and downs but I am happy with where I have come,” Dilip told veteran Indian spinner R. Ashwin in a chat on his YouTube channel.

“Luckily, I was very good at studying, so I was able to make ends meet by taking extra lessons. I taught maths to ensure that I could cover the financial needs of attending an academy and playing cricket.

“My father was very clear: ‘No sports.’ I didn’t have that option, because he didn’t know much about sports.”

Despite the many setbacks he faced, Dilip’s unwavering love for the sport drove him to the cricket fields of Hyderabad. It took him many sacrifices to achieve his ambitions.

There his journey began as a coach for children up to the age of nine at a local academy.

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Like any other teacher, he derived satisfaction from the success of his students.

“When I was playing, I expected people to give me input on my game, on what I should and shouldn’t do.

So I decided that if I had the opportunity to teach young children, I would try to help in any way I could. If I taught a certain stroke and the student performed the same in the nets or during a match, I felt elated and that ignited the spark in me to take my coaching duties more seriously.”

In 2004, Dilip decided to enroll in the BCCI Level-1 coaching program.

“I did a level-1 in 2004; I didn’t see it as a profession at the time. I just wanted to learn something. Surprisingly enough, I ended up with the top three coaches. The following years I played and coached side by side.

“But there came a point where I had to decide where my future was going in that particular situation. So I chose coaching and in 2007 I went to level-2.”

Dilip soon found an opportunity to share his expertise as a coach for the Under-14 and Under-16 teams at the Hyderabad Cricket Academy (HCA). His career flourished under the guidance of R. Sridhar, one of India’s finest fielding coaches.

“In 2008, I was working with the HCA as a U-14 and U-16 fielding coach. Sridhar was working with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) at that time. He gave me advice on what to do and how to do things.

“He achieved success by pushing through the grind. Coming from the same state, his journey was inspiring to me.”

With the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, Dilip got his first breakthrough with a stint with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in 2009.

“I worked for Deccan Chargers for three years. I was assistant fielding coach to Mike Young.

“Mike Young (was) a baseball coach. I saw his side throws and the way he would run back to catch a ball. I honed those skills by watching him and assisting him.”

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Later that year, Dilip took the next step in his career and realised his dream of joining the NCA as a specialist fielding coach.

“My first goal when I started level-2 in 2007 was to become a coach at NCA. I never dreamed of becoming a coach of an Indian team then.

“I just wanted to become a residential coach at NCA, stay there for a year and work. That was my goal in 2007 and of course I got an opportunity in 2009. Over time, NCA gave me the financial help I needed and the experience to work with professionals.

“Even HCA gave me a coaching position. Maybe the financial benefit wasn’t that high, but the experience of working with U-14, U-16, U-19, U-22, U-25 and then the Ranji Trophy team.

“Working with state and NCA players has taught me a lot about what exactly a player needs at the highest level.

“I was with the NCA from 2008 to 2019. I worked in various national and zonal camps with women, junior boys and others. I had the opportunity to work with players like Shubman Gill and Axar Patel, among others, during their formative years.”

When R. Sridhar ended his seven-year stint as fielding coach of the Indian team, the team had become a completely different unit.

It was now a top team with a new intensity and openness to innovation on the field and with the goalkeeper gloves.

When Dilip took over, he was entrusted to maintain this high standard and ensure effective player management, a key aspect of the team’s holistic development and a role he has fulfilled to perfection to date.

His extraordinary transformation from a humble math teacher widely admired for his modesty and unwavering dedication to an influential mentor to child prodigies and established superstars is incredibly heartwarming.