India have done most things right in the T20 World Cup 2026 so far. They have chased big totals, found match-winners in pressure moments and reached the semifinal. But one area continues to worry the entire nation. That, of course, is fielding.
Ahead of India’s semifinal against England at the Wankhede Stadium, former wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has pointed out that India’s slipping standards in the field could become a serious problem in a knockout match.
India have dropped 13 catches in the tournament. That has pushed their catching efficiency down to 72.7 percent, the worst among the teams that reached the Super 8 stage. Even Pakistan, who are often criticised for their fielding, have a much better success rate of 83.3 percent. Patel believes this has been an issue for a while and not just something seen in one match.
“One concern I feel is the fielding and not just the way India fielded in the game at Eden Gardens. It has been happening for almost a year and a half. We are dropping quite a few catches. That is something India would definitely like to work on,” Patel said on Jio Hotstar.
Weakest fielding team at T20WC: India
The concern is simple but a big one. In T20 cricket, one dropped catch can change the entire game. India experienced that more than once during this tournament. In the group-stage clash against Pakistan alone, the Indian fielders dropped four catches. India still managed to win that match, but such mistakes could prove costly in a semifinal.
Even against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, the fielding effort was far from perfect despite India chasing down a total above 190 to reach the last four.
Unfortunately for India, there aren’t many gun fielders in the lineup. You always have to keep the likes of Bumrah, Arshdeep and Chakaravarthy away from hotspots. Then there’s Ishan Kishan, who is predominantly a keeper. Shivam Dube, the big man, is a safe catcher but lacks agility. The biggest surprise, however, is Abhishek Sharma, who should ideally not be dropping as many catches as he has been.
The semi-finals and finals are known for headlining those “what if” moments. India would not want to end up on the receiving end due to their poor fielding.
Catching efficiency (semifinalists)
| Team | Catching Efficiency |
|---|---|
| England | 87.2% |
| New Zealand | 83.9% |
| South Africa | 81.1% |
| India | 72.7% |
