Sports · Cricket · 1 hr ago
Sridhar warns New Zealand conditions could test India's fielding
Former India fielding coach R Sridhar has warned that conditions on India's upcoming tour of New Zealand could make the team's fielding problems worse.
New Zealand's spring can bring cold temperatures, strong winds and changing weather, unlike the unusually warm October India has experienced.
Wellington's wind can make high catches harder to judge, while Christchurch can have chilly mornings and evenings.
India has dropped catches and missed chances in recent months, including during the 2026 T20 World Cup, which the team won.
Sridhar says players should adapt by keeping their hands warm and staying ready between deliveries.
He also says India needs to build a clearer fielding culture, because weather is only part of the problem.
The tour will test whether the team can improve its fielding in unfamiliar conditions.
Former India fielding coach R Sridhar warned that New Zealand’s chilly, windy spring could worsen India’s fielding problems on the team’s upcoming tour.
He said players would need to adapt to the weather and keep their hands warm, especially when taking high catches.
Wellington’s strong winds and Christchurch’s chilly conditions could make fielding more demanding.
India’s fielding has been inconsistent, including during the 2026 T20 World Cup, which the team won.
Sridhar said the team’s recent fielding form had not been good.
- Who
- R Sridhar warned about the challenge facing India’s players.
- What
- New Zealand’s conditions could test India’s fielding and worsen existing problems.
- When
- On India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand; a tour date is not stated.
- Where
- New Zealand, including Wellington and Christchurch.
- Why
- Cold and wind could make fielding and catching more difficult, while India’s recent fielding form has been poor.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
India struggled to establish itself as a consistently sharp fielding unit, although it won the tournament.
India Today reported Sridhar’s warning ahead of India’s upcoming New Zealand tour.
- Speaker
- R Sridhar, former India fielding coach
- Upcoming tour
- New Zealand
- Wellington
- Strong winds can make high catches challenging
- Christchurch
- Hagley Oval can be chilly during spring
- 2026 T20 World Cup
- India won the tournament despite fielding concerns
What people are saying
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
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.
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,
Sources
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