The fielding medal, now a familiar part of the Indian dressing room, originated during the Asia Cup when former India fielding coach T Dilip came up with the idea. Speaking to RevSportz, Dilip explained how Rohit Sharma helped refine the concept. “It was during the Asia Cup that the idea first came to me, and I remember taking it to captain Rohit Sharma over breakfast. I had originally envisaged medals for all departments – batting, bowling and fielding – and proposed the idea to Rohit. It was Rohit who suggested that batting and bowling always get recognised with the Player of the Match award, so it was important that we do something for fielding. That’s when we zeroed in on the fielding medal.” Dilip then took the idea to then head coach Rahul Dravid, who supported it. “Thereafter, we went to Rahul Dravid, the head coach, and Rahul bhai, as always, was hugely supportive of the idea,” said Dilip.
Dilip added that Dravid’s team-first approach fitted the initiative perfectly, although none of them initially expected it to become such an important tradition. “For Rahul bhai, it was always team first, and this fitted in very well with his vision. However, I have to say none of us thought that it would become as big. Credit also goes to the BCCI media team for documenting the presentations and showcasing them in the most beautiful manner. Now every player looks forward to this, and it has added a new element to the dressing room.” Reflecting on the first presentation, Dilip said, “The first day when we presented the medal is always going to be very special for me. It was something new, and none of us knew whether it would work. That the medal now has a life of its own makes the first day a cherished memory.”
“That silence in the dressing room will stay with me”: T Dilip recalls his most memorable Team India moment
Former India fielding coach T Dilip has reflected on the moment with Team India that remains closest to him, recalling the silence in the dressing room after the side’s World Cup campaign. Speaking about the experience, the experienced coach said, “That silence in the dressing room will stay with me. It was a moment where you could feel the pain and disappointment of everyone. We had given everything, and to come so close was difficult.” He also spoke about how the team responded to the setback and the environment within the group. “What I liked was that the boys came together. There was no blame game. Everyone took responsibility, and that showed the character of the team,” he said. The former fielding coach added that such moments provided valuable lessons beyond the result and strengthened the bond within the squad.
Dilip’s stint with the Indian team has now come to an end, with the BCCI making changes to the support staff following its review of the coaching setup. He was among the members of the previous support staff who were not retained. The board subsequently appointed a new coaching setup, with Gautam Gambhir continuing as head coach and fresh members joining different departments. The changes marked a transition for the Indian team, while Dilip’s contribution to improving the side’s fielding remained an important part of his tenure. His work included introducing greater competitiveness and recognition around fielding, including the now-popular fielding medal tradition.
