VVS Laxman surprises Indian team with special gesture from outgoing coach as dressing room tradition is passed on to juniors

Make way for the new and young generation of Indian cricketers. Under the leadership of Shubman Gill, the young brigade bounced back from a shock defeat against Zimbabwe in the first T20I to clinch the series 4-1 on Sunday. The comprehensive win gave a glimpse of the future. In two years, most of the players from this team will feature in India’s Playing XI at the 2026 T20 World Cup. The process has begun and with seniors like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, the transition will take place.

The transition is not limited to the players. As Indian cricket enters a new era, the outgoing coaching staff will be replaced by a new support group led by head coach Gautam Gambhir. The former India opener’s first official assignment as coach will begin on July 27, when India take on Sri Lanka in three ODIs and three T20Is, with an exciting phase expected to unfold.

But with 12 days left for the Lanka series to begin, the Indian team in Zimbabwe has already experienced what it is like to be in the seniors’ shoes. Not only are Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad batting where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli used to, they are also witnessing the same thrill in the dressing room. To make India’s win in Zimbabwe even more special, interim coach VVS Laxman had a surprise in store for his youngsters: a video call from none other than T Dilip, one of the outgoing coaches of the Rahul Dravid era.

“Boys, fielding has always been paramount for us and for Indian cricket. And it is one aspect of the game where we have set high standards over the years. We must aim to continue to strive for excellence in this area. As you all know, we follow a tradition which is the Fielding Medal. The medal is presented to a player who has made a significant impact on the game through his fielding. Today, to continue this tradition, Mr. Subhadeep Ghosh will present the Fielding Medal,” Dilip said.

Rinku Singh wins first championship medal for India

Rinku Singh, who received the honour from Laxman, won his first fielder’s medal for the Indian team. Although Rinku did not take a catch or make a run-out in the last T20Is in Harare, his tally of six catches in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th T20Is was enough to not only make him a contender but also to win the medal.

“Another good day on the field. I think everyone gave a tremendous effort. I think in the last five months we have faced different scenarios and different challenges. As I always say, catching is very, very important. If you make the catches, you can control the game and you can dominate the game, which is what we did today. Every time he steps on the field, I think he always says, I stand up. I think he always steps on the field, without putting any tools on me. I think it is up to Rinku Singh to play,” Ghosh said.

Rinku, with a smile from ear to ear, was over the moon. “I really enjoyed playing with everyone. This was my 4th or 5th series, so I really enjoyed it. To be honest, I enjoy fielding more than batting. I enjoy it a lot. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a lot of fun to run. So what else can I say… God’s plan,” Rinku said.