Sridhar to boost Sri Lanka’s fielding standards

Colombo

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced a comprehensive 10-day fielding programme led by former India fielding coach R Sridhar to elevate the fielding standards of both men’s and women’s national squads. The specialized program will begin on May 7 and will cover men’s and women’s national teams, emerging squads, premier club players, the National U19 team, and the Women’s ‘A’ team.

Sridhar, known for his successful stint with India, will begin the program with the Sri Lanka National Men’s team and subsequently train other squads. The programme will include fielding drills, skill-specific training, and simulated match scenarios to replicate real-game conditions. Sridhar will work closely with national, high-performance, and club coaches throughout his 10-day stint. A former left-arm spinner for Hyderabad, Sridhar has been involved in coaching since 2001. He served as India’s fielding coach from 2014 to 2021, overseeing more than 300 international matches, including two ODI and T20I World Cups. He also held roles with Kings XI Punjab in the IPL and recently served as Afghanistan’s assistant coach.

This initiative is part of SLC’s ongoing efforts to enhance cricketing skills through international expertise, having previously brought in Zubin Bharucha, Wasim Akram, and Jonty Rhodes for short-term programmes. Sridhar’s expertise is expected to significantly impact Sri Lanka’s fielding standards, particularly in high-pressure situations. His emphasis on skill development and match-like scenarios will help players adapt to the intensity of international cricket. SLC’s commitment to improving player performance through expert guidance reflects their long-term vision for cricket excellence.