Sacked once before, India fielding coach unlikely to get another extension

The two-year contracts of head coach Gautam Gambhir’s support staff will come to an end after India’s ongoing white-ball tour of England, with fielding coach T Dilip unlikely to receive another extension.

It must be mentioned that pace bowling coach Morne Morkel and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate’s two-year terms also come to an end after the tour. However, both have provisions for an extension in their contracts and, from the BCCI’s perspective, there is a strong desire to retain the duo.

Dilip, who joined the Indian team as part of Rahul Dravid’s coaching staff, has been one of the more popular members of the support group and will be fondly remembered for his morale-boosting speeches and the introduction of the ‘Best Fielder Medal’ after every match.

T DILIP WAS SACKED AFTER BGT

He was the only member of Dravid’s coaching staff to continue after Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey stepped down following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. However, after India’s disastrous Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in Australia, Dilip was among the two Indian members of the support staff who were removed from their roles. He was later brought back in May 2025, just before India’s tour of England.

India’s fielding standards came under scrutiny over the past year, particularly during the Asia Cup, where the team dropped several crucial catches. Fielding also remained one of the few blemishes during India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. It is understood that the BCCI has now decided to move in a different direction.

MORKEL, DOESCHATE LIKELY TO CONTINUE

Meanwhile, India are keen to retain Morne Morkel, who has earned praise for his work with the country’s fast bowlers across formats. Jasprit Bumrah, in particular, has reached another level under Morkel’s guidance, something that was evident during India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign, where he finished as the tournament’s standout bowler.

India’s bowling attack has shown consistent improvement over the last two years and, with an important tour of New Zealand later this year followed by the ODI World Cup in South Africa, Gambhir is expected to push for Morkel’s contract to be extended.

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate is also expected to continue with the team. The former Netherlands captain has become an integral part of Gambhir’s coaching group over the past two years, working closely on player development and tactical planning.

– Ends