Mohammad Kaif feels ‘less training’ is affecting India’s fielding standard

Mohammad Kaif feels ‘less training’ is affecting India’s fielding standard

Indian players in training

Indian players in training
Indian players in training

India’s fielding has seen a huge dip this calendar year. The Indian side dropped a whopping 12 catches in the T20 series against Australia while they botched up seven in the ODI series. Former Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif asserts that it is the result of ignorance to fielding in their training sessions. Kaif feels that the players are giving too much attention to batting and bowling. But are completely ignoring fielding when it comes to practice.

Kaif stresses that the lockdown rustiness is long gone. And it is not expected from a side who hails themselves as the flag bearers of high fielding standards.

“We see brilliant catches, but overall if someone says Indian fielding is improving I will avoid commenting because what I’ve seen over the past five-six months, Indians have fielded very poorly, they have to improve a lot,” Kaif was quoted as saying by TOI.

“It is all a result of less training. Strictly speaking, a player should be selected in the XI only if he reaches a standard of fielding. A lot of catches are being dropped. Even Virat Kohli is dropping catches. Everyone is dropping, it is happening since IPL. Players had come straight from lock-down to IPL — there was rustiness I can understand since fielding is directly connected to fitness. Players were there for four months at home, it is not easy. But after three-four months, even in Australia it is happening. That is an issue to be worried about,” added Kaif.

They spend a lot of time in the nets and gym but not on the ground

Virat Kohli and Prithvi Shaw dropped catches
Virat Kohli and Prithvi Shaw dropped catches

It is not like the rustiness is to blame here. On their last tour prior to the pandemic, the side put up a similar display of poor fielding in New Zealand. The Indian team dropped six catches each in the ODIs and Test series. Including the tour, India’s tally for drop catches shoots up to 36 for the calendar year. The former India player, who was known for his exceptional fielding, said that only hard work on the field would yield results. The catches have costed India games in the ongoing tour. And Kaif urges that it is time, the side takes up fielding seriously in their preparations.

“If you work hard on the field, the body gets into rhythm on its own and the eye is automatically set on the ball. Generally, what I have observed is that players spend the least time on fielding. They spend a lot of time on batting and bowling and in the gym, but not on the ground, where actual fielding takes place. Slip fielding, square-leg fielding, catching at cover — every different angle brings a different challenge. Every area brings a new challenge. I feel players are practising fielding less,” added Kaif.

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