Jonty Rhodes, renowned for his exceptional fielding skills, was reportedly a strong contender to take up the role of India’s fielding coach following T Dilip’s contract expiration after the T20 World Cup 2024. The suggestion came from current head coach Gautam Gambhir, who had previously collaborated with Rhodes during their time with the Lucknow Super Giants.
However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided against appointing a foreign fielding coach, leading to the renewal of Dilip’s contract and ending discussions about Rhodes’ potential appointment.
In a recent podcast on the Aleena Dissects YouTube channel, Rhodes humorously addressed the situation. He mentioned his residence in Goa and jested about being considered a local despite his international background. “Yeah! Can you believe it? I mean, they didn’t want an international coach, and I’m so local. I mean, mera naam Jonty Rhodes! Come on. I’m based in Goa. Maybe because I’m based in Goa. Maybe I need to be in a metro (city),” he said.
Rhodes took the opportunity to praise T Dilip and R Sridhar for their efforts as India’s fielding coaches. He emphasized the crucial role captains played in enhancing the team’s fitness standards. Highlighting MS Dhoni as a prime example, Rhodes commended the former captain’s commitment to fitness and its impact on the team.
“I’ve taken my hats off to the last two Indian fielding coaches. And it comes from captaincy. Under Dhoni… he had a lot of senior guys, and he just showed his physical ability. He still does at the end of his IPL career. Running between the wickets… amazing, and he’s 40. It’s incredible. He certainly showed, just through his example, the importance of fitness and strength,” Rhodes explained.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Virat Kohli, noting that Kohli’s leadership introduced stringent fitness standards for selection, which significantly improved India’s fielding prowess. “Then Virat Kohli took over, and it was a part of the selection criteria. If you don’t pass the fitness standards, it doesn’t matter how good you are. Everybody was treated equally, and it took India to becoming a good fielding team,” Rhodes added.
While Rhodes’ candid remarks shed light on his disappointment, they also highlight his respect for the ongoing efforts and the evolving fitness culture in Indian cricket.
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