Jonty Rhodes applies for Indian cricket team fielding coach position

Jonty Rhodes is regarded as the best fielder of all time and his brilliant catching and run-out skills. Rhodes was also an effective batsman in the middle order for South Africa.

Former South African batsman Jonty Rhodes has thrown his hat for the India team’s fielding coach’s position, making him one of the most high profile candidate to have applied for the post.

A file photo of former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes.(HT Photo)

“Yes, I have applied for the position of India’s new fielding coach. My wife and I love the country, and it has already given us so much -- we have 2 children born in India,” Rhodes told “CricketNext” website.

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Rhodes is one of the exceptional fielders of his time and is best remembered for the flying ‘run-out to dismiss former Pakistan skipper Inzamam Ul-Haq during the 1992 World Cup. The 49-year-old South African was the fielding coach of Indian Premier League side Mumbai Indians for a long time before parting ways with the franchise.

A frequent visitor of India, Rhodes had taken a fielding workshop for a T20 Mumbai League side at the Bandra Kurla complex on the behest of former Mumbai stumper Vinayak Samant.

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The BCCI has invited applications for various coaches positions, including head coach, batting coach, bowling coach and fielding coach and set July 30 as the deadline.

R Sridhar is the current fielding coach of India, whose contract was extended for 45 days till the end of the West Indies tour. Sridhar along with head coach Ravi Shastri and rest of the support staff won’t have to apply again as their their applications will be automatically considered.