'I Had To Stop Certain People': India's Fielding Coach Reveals How They Prepared For 1st Test

Indian fielding coach T Dilip has revealed his secret to getting team rey for upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against Australia: internal fielding competitions. At start of each training session, Dilip divides players into groups and has m compete against each or in fielding drills. This approach, he believes, sets tone for a productive practice session.

T Dilip reveals how Indian cricket team practiced for 1st Test

With five-Test series for Border-Gavaskar Trophy just around corner, Indian team has been working hard to maximize ir training sessions and match simulations. Dilip, who has continued as fielding coach under new he coach Gautam Gambhir, draws on his experience to fine-tune team's preparation.

"By now, I get a sense of team and how y work around," he said in a video shared by BCCI on ir website.

"That is why I always prefer (to go with) a little competition first to start with so after warm-up y kick off ( training session) having fun, laughter (and) getting toger." 

Explaining intricacies of one of recent training sessions during which Indian players were split into two groups, Dilip said y worked on throwing ball back from boundary ropes.

"We want everyone to get toger in a team drill but also get closer to match (reiness) what we wanted,” he said.

“That is why today’s team drill was more related to retrieving, where a boundary fielder throws to in-fielder, so inste of (having) one loopy long throw, we want to have two good flat throws.

"(It is important) to put that into practise so that players are aware, wher to stand towards ir left or ir right so that y are in a proper position, y are not wasting time in return." Dilip said exercise also intends to make players understand ir positioning and work in pairs.

"So players on boundary are also aware that re is anor person who is waiting for it so that y can throw one bounce or full into hands. That was main idea of getting that drill into practice," he said.

"I would say that players have really put up intensity of re," coach said while expressing his satisfaction on how players responded.

"n, when y come into skills, wher it is slip and outfield catching or running back, you could see that players were really up for it." 

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Dilip said re are instances when he is forced to stop players going full throttle.

"Literally, I h to stop certain people (from) going for it. But I am very happy that players have responded grually and today was outstanding, a proper finish to efforts what we have put in (over ) last two days," he said. 

(With PTI inputs)