'Want everyone to get together in team drill' - T Dilip describes India's fielding ahead of Perth Test

Team India is leaving no stone unturned in its preparation for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The side was involved in an intense practice session before the opening Test in Perth, with fielding coach T Dilip implementing innovative drills to enhance the team's fielding abilities.

While the weather initially stopped the session, the players returned to the field as soon as conditions improved. The practice resumed with fielding drills, warm-ups, and some football juggling contests.

The session focused particularly on boundary fielding and relay throws. The coaching staff also introduced a specialized drill that focused on flat throws between boundary fielders and infielders, moving away from traditional loopy throws.

"What we wanted today is we want everyone to get together in a team drill, but also get closer to the match that we wanted. So that is why today's team drill was more related to retrieving where a boundary fielder throws to the infielder. So instead of one loopy long throw, we wanted to have two good flat throws. To put that into practice so that players are aware whether to stand towards the left, towards your right so that they are in a proper position, they are not wasting time in turns," T Dilip said in a video posted by BCCI.

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Happy the way players have responded, says Dilip

The session's intensity was particularly evident in the slip cordon, where Virat Kohli trained alongside Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sarfaraz Khan. The practice session saw several standout moments, including spectacular catches and direct hits.

"So players on the boundary are also aware that there is another person who is waiting for it. So they can throw one bouncer full into their hands," he added.

The 44-year-old also mentioned satisfaction with the team's response towards training. He pointed out that each player was giving their 100 percent and were looking to polish their skills ahead of the Australian challenge.

"I feel today, after the session, we can see that I am very happy. I would say that the players have really put up the intensity up there. So by now, I get a sense of our team, how they work around. So that is why I always prefer a little competition first to start with so that after the warm-up, they kick off having the fun, laughter, getting together.

Then, when they come into the skills today, boy, you see that whether it is slip catching, outfield catching or running back. You could see that players were really up to it. And literally, I had to stop certain people going for it. But I am very happy the way players have responded gradually. And today was outstanding and a proper finish to the effort of what we have put in the last few days," the fielding coach concluded.