The Indian Cricket Team’s coaching staff have only a few days left with the team as the extension to their contract will end after India’s tour of West Indies just over a month from now. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is already accepting applications for the various posts and former South African cricketer and Mumbai Indians coach Jonty Rhodes has confirmed his application for the job of fielding coach.
Jonty is considered as one of the greatest fielders world cricket has ever witnessed. It will be an absolute pleasure for any team to have the South African as their fielding coach. He has previously worked at that position with the IPL team Mumbai Indians for nine seasons.
Jonty explained why he would be the perfect candidate for the job and why he would love to work with the best Test team in the world. His love for India has been evident with the fact that he has named his daughter after the country.
Jonty told CricketNext, “Yes, I have applied for the position of India’s new fielding coach. My wife and I love the country, and it has already given us so much — we have 2 children born in India. I have spent 9 seasons as MI fielding coach based in Mumbai. I have seen incredible growth in athleticism and fielding ability in India over the past 5 years and really respect what has been achieved.”
His term with the Mumbai-based IPL franchise ended after the 2017 season and has spent most of his time focusing on development and grassroots coaching since then.
“I like to think there are a few elements that I can add to what they have already achieved. I have spent two years away from high performance coaching and have spent most of my time focusing on development and grassroots coaching. I am a coach who loves coaching and let’s face it, the Indian cricket team is the busiest in the world, so great opportunity to be busy and doing what you love amongst players and a team that I really respect,” the 49-year-old said.
He also has a vision for the Indian parents who don’t allow their children to take risks.
“I have seen from my time in India that parents don’t let their children take much risk, and my vision would be for the Indian team not to just be the team with lowest drop catch percentage, but also the team with highest half-chance opportunity taken!”
Jonty, if selected, will replace R Sridhar as Team India’s fielding coach.
