IndiaAfter the legendary batsman, the level of fielding has once again come into limelight. Sunil Gavaskar Sent a strong message after the team’s recent white-ball assignment. The former India captain believes fielding can no longer be considered a second-rate skill and has urged the selectors to take strict action against players who consistently fail to meet the required standards. His comments come amid growing concerns over India’s declining fielding performance across all formats, with dropped catches and costly mistakes becoming a recurring theme in recent months.
Sunil Gavaskar called for strict selection policy
Gavaskar did not hold back in assessing India’s fielding standards, emphasizing that players who are average in fielding should not be guaranteed a place in the team. Writing for Sportstar, the batting legend stressed that captains should not be forced to protect weaker fielders by constantly adjusting field placements.
“It is imperative that if a player is an average fielder, he has to be shown the way out. There is no way a captain has to hide three or four players, hoping that the ball will not go close to them,” Gavaskar wrote.
His comments underline the increasing importance of athleticism and fast fielding in modern cricket, where even saving a handful of runs or taking a difficult catch can completely change the outcome of a match. Gavaskar’s comments reflect the belief that fielding should be considered a major selection criteria along with batting and bowling.
India’s recent fielding struggles come under scrutiny
India’s fielding has been widely criticized over the past several months and repeated mistakes have proved costly in international cricket. Although the team completed a 3-0 win over Zimbabwe in T20 series In July 2026, the win was eclipsed by several dropped catches, misfields and missed run-out chances.
These concerns had already come to the fore during the white-ball series against India ireland And England At the beginning of the year. In both encounters, poor fielding cost the opponents extra lives and valuable runs, contributing significantly to the disappointing series defeat.
The problems became even more apparent during 2026 t20 world cup. India finished the tournament with the highest number of dropped catches at 13 chances among all the participating teams. Repeated errors raised questions on concentration, preparation and execution under pressure, drawing criticism from experts and members of the coaching setup.
The recent decline for a team once considered one of the best fielding units in the world has become difficult to ignore.
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Numbers show worrying decline
The figures paint a worrying picture of the decline in India’s fielding over the last few years. During the recent Test series against England, India’s catching efficiency dropped to just 66.2%, with the team missing 23 of the 45 catching opportunities it faced.
That figure placed India 10th among the 12 Test-playing nations in catching efficiency at that time, highlighting how far the team had slipped from the high standards set during the previous decade.
India had earned praise for becoming one of the most athletic teams in world cricket over the years, with exceptional fielders regularly turning matches through spectacular catches, direct hits and boundary saves. However, recent performances suggest those standards have declined, making Gavaskar’s criticism particularly significant.
Since important international assignments are still to come, the pressure is increasing on the Indian team management to resolve the issue. Gavaskar’s call for tougher accountability could reignite the debate over whether fielding alone should influence selection decisions as India looks to restore the sharpness that once defined its success.
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