As the Asia Cup 2025 final approaches, the Indian cricket team’s fielding has become a major talking point, drawing significant criticism. With a concerning catching efficiency of merely 67.5% throughout the tournament, and a staggering 12 dropped catches, India ranks second-lowest among all participating teams, just slightly ahead of Hong Kong.
These glaring fielding lapses are a worrying sign, even though India has otherwise shown strong performances with both bat and ball, successfully navigating a challenging Super Fours stage that even included a thrilling Super-Over finish to reach the final.
Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra didn’t mince words, directly criticizing the team management and fielding coach T. Dilip for the subpar display. “Players should be practicing. What exactly is the fielding coach doing? He needs to ensure they practice catching under lights. These are professional cricketers; they must work hard and adapt. While one or two dropped catches can be excused in a match, this consistent trend is unacceptable. I believe Gautam Gambhir, among others, really needs to focus on improving the fielding,” Mishra stated in a recent interaction.
Mishra further stressed the critical role of sharp catching in T20 cricket, especially with such a high-stakes final against Pakistan looming. “In T20 Internationals, even a single dropped catch can prove incredibly costly, yet the Indian team is dropping three to four catches per game. They absolutely must prioritize fielding. There should be zero margin for error in the final against Pakistan. If there’s a problem, they must find a solution immediately,” he urged.
Echoing some of the challenges, India spinner Varun Chakravarthy highlighted a potential issue with the Dubai International Stadium’s unique ‘Ring of Fire’ lighting system, which is installed around the roof. “At this level, you can’t offer excuses. As a team, we simply have to start taking these catches, especially as we head into the finals. While we should be converting these opportunities, I can say that the ‘Ring of Fire’ lights can sometimes cause a bit of disturbance in the eye,” Chakravarthy explained to reporters after India’s win over Bangladesh.
The Indian squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, is set to face Pakistan in what will be their third encounter within a mere two weeks. This highly anticipated final will take place at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, with both cricketing giants vying for the prestigious continental title.
Ultimately, the fielding performance could very well be the decisive factor in this championship match. Given the intense rivalry and unforgiving nature of the T20 format, the team management and fielding coach have a crucial task ahead of them during the brief break before the final. Improved catching and overall fielding will be paramount to securing victory in what promises to be an electrifying contest.