India's all-format tour of New Zealand begins on October 22, with the five-match T20I series starting in Christchurch. The ODI series follows from November 4, and the Test series begins on November 19 in Wellington. This tour marks a rare scheduling for India, as the team typically visits New Zealand during the January-February window.
R Sridhar, the former India senior men's fielding coach, has raised concerns about the team's fielding standards ahead of the tour. Speaking about the challenges India will face in New Zealand's conditions, Sridhar highlighted both the immediate adaptation required and longer-term performance issues.
"I think our fielders will have to adapt. As you know, we've had a very hot October in India this year, thanks to El Nino, the super El Nino. So, there's going to be quite a bit of adaptation required from our fielders, bowlers and batters," Sridhar said as quoted by India Today.
All of them have to protect themselves: Sridhar
Sridhar explained that New Zealand's varied playing conditions will present distinct challenges for India's fielders. Wellington's windy climate and Christchurch's cold temperatures at Hagley Oval will require different preparation strategies and physical adjustments.
"Especially when you're playing in cities like Wellington, which can be really, really windy, high catches could always become a challenge. But if you're in Christchurch, at Hagley Oval, it's a lovely, lush green cricket ground, and it can get very chilly," Sridhar said.
"All the fielders will have to protect themselves by using hand warmers, keeping their hands in their pockets or warming them up every now and then," he added.
Form has been a concern for some time now: Sridhar
Sridhar's primary concern extends beyond immediate weather adaptation to India's broader fielding form over recent months. The former coach highlighted that inconsistency in fielding has persisted for an extended period, affecting the team's overall performance across formats.
"But it's not going to be easy, let me tell you that. The form is not great, as you said. The Indian team's fielding form has not been great over the last few matches, or even the last few months. It's not just been a year; the form has been a concern for some time now," Sridhar said.
No culture in fielding: Sridhar
Sridhar observed that while India has developed clear tactical cultures in batting and bowling, a similar structured approach to fielding remains absent. This absence of a defined fielding philosophy has contributed to the inconsistency the team has experienced.
"I think fielding has definitely taken a backseat in terms of application and building a certain culture. We can see a clear culture in the way the Indian team bats, and similarly, there's a clear culture in the way the Indian team bowls," Sridhar said.
"Especially in ODIs, Shubman Gill likes tall, fast bowlers who hit the deck hard. But when it comes to fielding, that same clarity seems to be missing," he added.
