'I will be the fielding coach' — Michael Vaughan takes cheeky dig at BCCI's vacancy post

The BCCI has invited applications for two support staff positions: a fielding coach for the Senior Women's National Team and a head physiotherapist for the Senior Men's National Team. The board has set November 16, 2026 as the deadline for submissions, with Munish Bali set to be replaced in the women's fielding coach role and Kamlesh Jain departing as the men's head physiotherapist.

Reacting to the announcement on X, former England captain Michael Vaughan could not resist a tongue-in-cheek response. The post drew attention given India's well-documented catching troubles across recent assignments.

"I will be the fielding coach," Vaughan quoted via his official 'X' handle.

I will be the fielding coach https://t.co/IUYqpqkHJz

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 3, 2026

In all seriousness, the timing of the BCCI's move comes after a difficult run for India Women in the field. The side dropped 10 catches across five group-stage matches at the Women's T20 World Cup 2026, contributing to a group-stage exit from the tournament. Among the most costly lapses was the match against South Africa, where Marizanne Kapp was given three separate reprieves, allowing her to make India pay for each dropped chance.

Head coach Amol Muzumdar acknowledged the shortcomings openly, admitting the team needed to improve across all three departments — batting, bowling and fielding.

How bad was India's fielding in the Zimbabwe series?

The fielding concerns did not begin with the World Cup. During the T20I leg of the Zimbabwe series, India dropped four catches, while the ODI series opener saw four more opportunities go begging in the field.

Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh dropped two catches in the Zimbabwe series, including a regulation chance behind the stumps. Deepti Sharma and Kranti Gaud also missed chances across the white-ball fixtures. India additionally failed to convert a couple of run-out opportunities during that series. Although the Women in Blue swept the ODI series 3-0 against Zimbabwe, the fielding lapses remained a visible concern throughout.

What must applicants meet to qualify for the fielding coach role?

The BCCI has outlined specific eligibility criteria for the women's fielding coach position. Applicants must hold at minimum a BCCI Level 'B' coaching certification or an equivalent qualification. Candidates are also required to have either represented India or another country at international level, or to have played at least 30 first-class matches. In addition, they must have coached an international team, a state team or a franchise for at least one season, or a T20 equivalent for at least two seasons.

India's next assignment is a full-format tour of South Africa, beginning with a one-off Test in Gqeberha on December 9, followed by three ODIs from December 16 and three T20Is from December 26. Whether the new fielding coach will be in place before that tour gets under way remains to be seen.