Fielding coach R Sridhar calls Ravindra Jadeja the best fielder Team India had in last decade

Sridhar also talked about how Indian team can improve their fielding.

Team India has been amazing so far in the longest format of the game, given that they whitewashed South Africa 3-0 and with it created a world record of winning 11 consecutive Tests series at home. Though many term the rejuvenated bowling attack or the very good batting form of the team.

However, one person feels that one aspect of the Indian team has been overlooked, is the fielding. Talking about this Indian facet was fielding coach R Sridhar.

"In my opinion, the perception of Indian fielding has changed in the last few years. Faf (du Plessis) lauded Indian fielders' dominance over South Africa. Even during the World Cup, the opposition captains spoke highly about our fielding. I think the focus for that has come from the top as to what (coach) Ravi Shastri or Virat wants. Even a newcomer like Shahbaz Nadeem, the change has been in two areas: mindset and fitness. Changing the mindset is pertaining to what the teams want to achieve, and fitness was a crucial part of that,” Sridhar said in an interview to Times of India.

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Sridhar also named the best fielder in the Indian team and it was none other than Ravindra Jadeja.

“Jaddu's presence on the field lifts the team's spirits. He is someone who can keep the opposition on their toes with his fielding. He has an intimidating presence on the field. I wouldn't like to go very far but in the last decade or so Jadeja has been the best fielder India has had,” Sridhar added.

Sridhar also gave his two cents on the raging debate between Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha, as to who should be given preference in the Test team. Sridhar also talked about how they were not concerned about Saha’s fitness after the long injury layoff. Sridhar said, “There were no concerns at all. He (Saha) was easing into the rigors of international cricket during the West Indies series. He had also played a few games for India 'A' before that. Once we were playing in India, we brought back Saha. He is our best wicketkeeper and his skills were for all to see during the India-SA series. It's unfair to compare the two as both Saha and Rishabh have their strengths. One is young, while the other is experienced. Rishabh is our future and Saha is our present and both are doing brilliantly.”

Sridhar said, “Developing a pool of players who can field at slip cordon is an area we are working on. In shorter formats, lateral movement and throwing from the deep are the areas we are focusing on as we head into the World T20 next year,” about one area in which India needs to work on improving on their fielding.