Team India’s fielding coach T Dilip is unlikely to get a contract extension before the Zimbabwe tour. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly planning a fresh start in the fielding department after a significant decline in the fielding standards of the Men in Blue in recent months.
After the white ball series against England, Team India will play a three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe. The Shubman Gill-led Men in Blue recently suffered a 2-1 defeat during the ODI series after failing to chase 388 at Lord’s. Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, they also lost the T20 series 4-0.
T Dileep unlikely to get contract extension before Zimbabwe tour
T Dileep’s extended tenure will end before the series in Zimbabwe. Dilip joined the Indian support staff under former head coach Rahul Dravid and soon became a popular figure in the dressing room.
He started the ‘Best Fielder Medal’ tradition. He was the only support staff member to be retained after Rahul Dravid, Vikram Rathore and Paras Mhambrey left following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win. After the 2025 Champions Trophy, he got a one-year extension, but he is unlikely to get another extension.
According to sports journalist Rohit Juglan, T Dilip’s extended tenure as fielding coach has ended, and he will not be traveling with the team for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour.
Juglan wrote, “T. Dilip’s extended tenure as fielding coach has officially ended. He is not traveling with the team to Zimbabwe. Another extension is unlikely as per sources. But what a contribution after R Sridhar.”
T. Dilip’s extended tenure as fielding coach has officially ended – he is not traveling with the team to Zimbabwe
According to sources another extension is unlikely
But what is the contribution after R Sridhar pic.twitter.com/IJJjZTv6H7– Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) July 21, 2026
India’s fielding problems force BCCI to move on from T Dileep
T Dileep was set to be sacked after the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but this was overturned in May 2025 after Rohit Sharma appealed to Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI.
The BCCI has taken this decision after India’s repeated fielding mistakes in recent months. Despite winning the 2026 T20 World Cup, India had to struggle badly on the field.
The team dropped 15 catches during the tournament, the most of any side. India also recorded a catching efficiency of only 72%, the lowest among all the participating teams.
Fielding issues first came to light during last year’s Asia Cup and continued during the recent white-ball tour of England. Despite many opportunities, India failed to improve. The tour ended in disappointment as India lost the final ODI by 27 runs at Lord’s.
VVS Laxman will coach the second-string team in the Zimbabwe series.
After the England tour, Team India reached Zimbabwe for a three-match T20 series starting on Thursday, July 23. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has been rested for this tour.In which VVS Laxman is taking charge as the stand-in head coach.
Shreyas Iyer will lead the Indian team, while Tilak Verma has been made the vice-captain. The young team will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing performance in the T20 series against England, where they failed to register a single win.
The selectors recalled wicketkeeper Prabhsimran Singh, who returns to the T20I setup for the first time since the 2023 Asian Games. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav is also back after an absence of two years.
Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur have earned their first international call-ups. All three T20 matches will be played at Harare Sports Club on 23, 25 and 26 July, with the matches starting at 4:30 PM IST.
