'What’s the coach doing?': Former India star slams team’s poor fielding

India's fielding performance is under intense scrutiny ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan, with a concerning 67.5% catching efficiency and 12 dropped catches. Former spinner Amit Mishra criticized the team's consistent errors, while Varun Chakravarthy mentioned Dubai's 'Ring of Fire' lights as a challenge.

India's Abhishek Sharma drops the catch. (AP/PTI)

India's fielding performance has come under scrutiny ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan in Dubai, with the team recording a catching efficiency of just 67.5 percent throughout the tournament. The Indian team has dropped 12 catches during their campaign, ranking second-lowest among the eight participating teams, only ahead of Hong Kong's 52.7 percent catching success rate. The fielding concerns have emerged despite India's strong showing with bat and ball in the tournament, where they have reached the final after an intense Super Fours stage that included a Super-Over finish.

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Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra has criticized the team management and fielding coach T. Dilip for the poor fielding display. "You should practice. What is the fielding coach doing? He should make them practice taking catches under the light. You are professional cricketers. You have to work hard and adjust to it. I agree that one or two dropped catches can happen in a match. But it has been happening consistently. I think Gautam Gambhir needs to focus on fielding," Mishra said in an interaction with ANI. Mishra further emphasized the importance of catching in T20 cricket, particularly in crucial matches like the upcoming final against Pakistan. "In T20Is, dropping one catch can prove costly, and the Indian team is dropping three to four catches. They need to focus on fielding. There should be no margin of error in the final against Pakistan. Even if there is a problem, you should find a solution to it," he added. India spinner Varun Chakravarthy has pointed to potential challenges posed by the Dubai International Stadium's lighting system, known as the 'Ring of Fire', which is installed around the roof.

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What do you think is the primary reason for India's poor fielding performance?

Lack of practice Lighting conditions Pressure of big matches Inadequate coaching

"You can't give excuses at this level. As a team, we have to definitely start catching those because we will be qualifying for the finals. We should be taking these catches, but definitely, if you ask me about rings of fire, it comes in the eye, something. It is a little bit of disturbance," Chakravarthy told reporters after India's victory over Bangladesh. The Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav , will face Pakistan in the Asia Cup final, marking their third encounter within a fortnight. The match will be played at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, where both teams will look to claim the prestigious continental trophy. The fielding performance could prove crucial in determining the outcome of the final, given the high-stakes nature of an India-Pakistan clash and the format's unforgiving nature when it comes to fielding errors. The team management and fielding coach will need to address these concerns in the day's break before the final, as improved catching could be vital in what promises to be an intense championship match.

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