Why has Jonty Rhodes not been selected as India’s fielding coach?

Dixit Bhargav | 23/08/2019
Why has Jonty Rhodes not been selected as India's fielding coach?

Jonty Rhodes not been selected as India’s fielding coach: Former South African cricketer hasn’t been named in the Top Three list of candidates.

The selection committee of the Indian cricket team made public the list of three candidates each for the positions of India’s batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach and other available positions.

Named in the priority order of their selection, the candidate who has been named in the first place seems likely to be named the respective coach.

“We will call each [one] of them and inform them officially. Also, ask them [regarding] any other position or job which they hold, just like all the other Team India staff. Once they confirm that, we will complete the formalities and try and make them available at the latest,” BCCI CEO Rahul Johri was quoted as saying during the press conference.

Jonty Rhodes not been selected as India’s fielding coach

A big surprise which came across after the meeting was regarding the fielding coach. Before the interviews were to be conducted, former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes was being considered as the most fitting choice for the position.

A legendary fielder of his time, Rhodes was involved as a fielding coach with Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League for as many as nine years. Not finding Rhodes’ name in the list of top three candidates definitely had it in it to be questioned.

Being asked about the same during the press conference, chief selector MSK Prasad opened up on why the South African hasn’t been named. “R. Sridhar is one of the best fielding coaches in the world. Unfortunately in the World Cup, we had three wicket-keepers in the side and the combination was like that.

“Otherwise, he transformed the fielding unit so there is no second thought on that. We don’t see Jonty [Rhodes] fitting in there because those roles are more for India A levels and for NCA,” Prasad was quoted as saying.

Post Edited By: Dixit Bhargav
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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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