“The Journey Continues”: T Dilip Pens Emotional Farewell Note on Instagram

New Delhi, August 4: Former Indian fielding coach T Dilip signed off on his successful tenure as India's fielding coach with an emotional farewell message on his Instagram account on Monday. With the departure of Dilip, a glorious five-year stint came to an end that saw the transformation of the Indian team's fielding culture and coincided with one of the most successful eras across formats.

Dilip started his tenure with the Indian team in November 2021 and ended it with the tenure after India's T20I tour of Zimbabwe. Subhadeep Ghosh has replaced him in the national team and will be travelling with the Indian team against Sri Lanka beginning on August 15.

"It is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much," Dilip wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post that reflected on his time with the team.

"When I first walked into this setup, I came in with one simple intention- to give everything I had every single day. Fielding has always been my way of contributing to the game I love, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in this team's journey."

Dilip's New 'Fielding Medal' Revolutionised Indian Fielding

Of all the memories Dilip revisited, none was more memorable than the now-iconic fielding medal ceremony, which evolved into a cherished dressing-room tradition during the 2023 ODI World Cup.

"The fielding medal will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing the excitement it created in the dressing room, the smiles it brought and the value the players attached to it are memories I'll carry with me forever," the former fielding coach wrote on his Instagram account.

The fielding medal was a post-match ceremony to celebrate exceptional fielding efforts. The ceremony, which started as a fun activity, quickly became the defining metric of India's team culture. It encouraged players to embrace athleticism and intensity on the field.

Dilip also thanked the BCCI for trusting him with the role and expressed gratitude to former head coach Rahul Dravid and current head coach Gautam Gambhir for their unwavering support. In the concluding remarks, he also expressed his gratitude to every Indian captain he has worked with- Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer.