Team India’s path to T20 World Cup 2026 glory faces a formidable hurdle: sloppy fielding. Bowling coach Morne Morkel called it out bluntly in Ahmedabad, just days before the Super 8 showdown with South Africa. Suryakumar Yadav’s men have spilled nine catches during group play, fueling doubts about their outfield reliability.
In a candid presser on Sunday’s eve, Morkel underscored the priority. ‘Our biggest area of focus is fielding,’ he declared. Smart positioning stops twos turning into threes, while game-changing catches in the death overs can dismantle opposition momentum. ‘Players are working tirelessly because every grab counts,’ he added.
The stats paint a worrying picture – India trails only Ireland (10 drops) in fielding errors. Remarkably, this hasn’t derailed their campaign; unbeaten in the group stage of the infamous ‘Group of Death,’ they’ve advanced with style. Now, the February 22 clash at Narendra Modi Stadium against unbeaten South Africa tests their resolve.
Morkel’s message is clear: in T20’s razor-thin margins, elite fielding separates contenders from champions. With rigorous sessions underway, India aims to seal leaks before pressure mounts. This wake-up call could spark the transformation needed for a deep tournament run.