'You created magic': Rohit Sharma's emotional farewell to behind-the-scenes architect T Dilip

Rohit Sharma's social media post came in response to Dilip's emotional farewell note after officially parting ways with the national side.

Updated on: Aug 4, 2026, 08:39:31 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Former India captain Rohit Sharma paid an emotional tribute to outgoing fielding coach T Dilip, who brought the curtains down on his five-year stint with the Indian men's team. In a heartfelt message, Rohit called Dilip a "legend" and a "behind-the-scenes workhorse", acknowledging the role he played in shaping India's dressing-room culture and raising the team's fielding standards during one of its most successful periods.

Rohit's social media post came in response to Dilip's emotional farewell note after officially parting ways with the national side. The Hyderabad-based coach reflected on his five-year journey with Team India and thanked the BCCI, former head coach Rahul Dravid, current head coach Gautam Gambhir, the captains he worked under, and every member of the support staff for their trust and support.

"Five years. It's difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much. When I first walked into this setup, I came in with one simple intention, to give everything I had every single day. Fielding has always been my way of contributing to the game I love, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in this team's journey," Dilip wrote.

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The former fielding coach also looked back on the now-famous fielding medal tradition he introduced during the 2023 ODI World Cup, an initiative that went viral and drew praise from former cricketers for rewarding excellence in the field.

"The fielding medal will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing the excitement it created in the dressing room, the smiles it brought and the value the players attached to it are memories I'll carry with me forever," he wrote.

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A post shared by T Dilip (@dilip.tk19)

Dilip also reminisced about the team's major achievements during his tenure, including two T20 World Cup titles, the Champions Trophy triumph, two Asia Cup victories, and runner-up finishes in both the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship.

Soon after the post, Rohit shared a picture with Dilip on his Instagram Stories and wrote: "You are a legend, Dillip guru. You created magic within the group and a behind the scenes workhorse. Best wishes ahead @dillip.tk.19."

Dilip joined the Indian team as fielding coach in 2021 and remained part of the support staff through multiple coaching regimes. While his contract was extended during India's Test tour of England in 2025 after initially ending following the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the BCCI has now decided against another extension.

According to reports, former Assam cricketer Subhadeep Ghosh is set to take over as India's new fielding coach, with the upcoming two-Test tour of Sri Lanka expected to be his first assignment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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