Like simmering hot water in a pan, India’s campaign at the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 came together when they needed it the most. The batting blasted oppositions cleanly, while the bowling did enough to choke the opposition to make India the maiden team to win the silverware three times. Yet, there remained an area where India were horrible. It was the fielding. While the entire world has criticised the awful catch percentage of the champions, former Indian captain Anjum Chopra has offered a more holistic view.
T20 World Cup: Best team had the worst fielding record
You may celebrate fielding medals after games. You may get in a huddle, cheering each other up with a fire of words. But on the field, you are expected to at least control the controllables. Unfortunately, this Indian team made matters worse for themselves by putting in bad efforts on the field.
They may work tirelessly on the training ground. The players may put in extra hours in the gym to attain elasticity and run hard just so they can reach the point of catching quicker than others. But in the end, it all matters how safe your hands are when the ball is up in the air. You feel the heat of the crowd, waiting for your palms to complete the wicket. But those palms were buttery for Indians, to say the least.
Among all Super 8 teams, India had the worst catching record. They dropped 15 catches in the tournament, easily the most by any side. Teams like Pakistan and Sri Lanka are always considered inferior in fielding standards. But India attained a new low. This really begs the question – does having a young team really translate to a better fielding unit?
Worst catching efficiency (among Super 8 teams)
| Team | Catching Efficiency |
|---|---|
| England | 87.2% |
| Zimbabwe | 85.4% |
| West Indies | 84.6% |
| New Zealand | 83.9% |
| Pakistan | 83.3% |
| South Africa | 81.1% |
| Sri Lanka | 77.8% |
| India | 72.7% |
Fielding under lights a different ball game, feels Anjum Chopra
However, Anjum Chopra had her firm views on India’s ordinary fielding efforts. Being a former Indian captain who had a stupendous career, spanning 17 years, knows a thing or two about different challenges on the ground. While she acknowledges that India’s fielding could’ve been better, the former Indian women’s team captain offered a different viewpoint.
“Yes, I agree that the fielding could’ve been better than what it was, especially the catch efficiency. It’s not been a secret. Having said that, teams do look back at those moments, considering the pressure, and think about what could’ve been better. So, you sit back and analyse. Apart from that, you can’t do much about it and try to become better at it. So, some outstanding catches have been taken and some simpler catches have been dropped. So, fielding is something which is ongoing and you can only become a better fielder,” Chopra said while speaking exclusively to InsideSport.
What Chopra emphasised was the fact that it is extremely difficult to field under lights. You often see a fielder gesturing towards lights when they drop a catch. It isn’t easy. And that is what the Padma Shri (2014) awardee stressed, claiming that there is a major difference fielding under the lights and in daylight. India, to cater to the viewership demand, played all their T20 World Cup games under the lights and that is what perhaps caught him.
“Fielding under the lights is not an easy thing. Regardless of how many matches we play, it is not easy. Fielding under lights and natural light are two different things. Yes, we know that professionals can’t make excuses but these are very common words that you hear. But there is a major difference between fielding under the lights and in the daylight. We lead our lives under natural light and not under artificial lighting. That challenge will always remain. It’s always about how quickly a team overcomes it and gets better at it,” she divulged.
