Fielding the challenge: India get to grips with Eden Park

NewsSports NewsCricket NewsCutting the angles: India's key to fielding success in Auckland Cutting the angles: India's key to fielding success in Auckland Sahil Malhotra / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Nov 03, 2026, 13:28 IST Virat Kohli (left) and Arshdeep Singh during India's fielding session at Eden Park AUCKLAND: The Eden Park outfield was buzzing with activity as soon as the Indian cricket team got down to business ahead of the first ODI of the five-match series against New Zealand.

Divided into groups of four, the players ran between two equidistant cones placed across the ground and intercepted deliveries fired by fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh and other members of the support staff.The plan was simple: players were asked to call clearly and loudly while approaching the ball, and whoever reached it first had to fire it back to the thrower.

The drill lasted around 30 minutes, emphasising the importance of running in straight lines, even when approaching the ball from different angles. The idea was to help players familiarise themselves with the ground's dimensions, which differ from those they are accustomed to.

Watch Shubman Gill on India's New Zealand challenge and World Cup preparations That is where the challenge lies in Auckland. The floodlights are different, the dimensions could feel unfamiliar, and ground fielding could become tricky, with plenty of opportunities to take twos in the deeper pockets.Former India fielding coach R Sridhar, who was with the team during its last tour, says Auckland's dimensions are different and challenging, making the concept of "cutting the angles" particularly important.

On addressing India's fielding lapses, Sridhar emphasised that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to preparation. He believes the experience within the ODI squad will help the players navigate the challenges."Each player will be different.

Preparation volume depends on the player's mental state, what the player needs at that point, and what he has done before. So there is a lot of basis in volume. You just can't go blindly and say everybody has to do this volume.

It doesn't work that way. In ODIs, there is a lot of experience. You have Rohit, Virat, Gill. All of them have played there before. I'm sure they will do well too," said Sridhar. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates.

Download the TOI app. Sahil Malhotra reports all things cricket for Times of India & has extensively covered the game from grassroots level for over 15 years. Cricket in whites is still love at every sight. Frantically tweets on @Sahil_Malhotra1 India Signs Rs 53,866 Crore Deal For 8 Next-Generation Navy Corvettes Imran Khan Apologises In Bombay HC Over SIR Protest, ‘Leave India’ Notice Put On Hold ‘Come If You Have Guts’: Rahul Dares PM Modi To Open Debate, Alleges ‘Foreign Help’ Behind Rise ‘Against Hindutva’: BMC Removes Dia Mirza's Anti-Pollution Diwali Video After BJP Protests Two Kuki Youths, Mutilated Bodies & Angry Protests: Manipur Sees Fresh Unrest 280 Kmph Speed, Next-Gen Features- Indias First Bullet Train Takes Shape In Bengaluru “Super Flop Rally”: Sambit Patra Mocks INDIA Bloc, Asks “Where Are The 10 Lakh People?” Amit Shah Slams Congress Rally On 1984 Riots Anniversary, Says It Rubs Salt Into Victims’ Wounds