The team management problems that are hurting the Indian team overseas

4. Anybody can be a slip fielder

Butterfingers in the slip cordon!

This is an extension of the previous problem. The role of slip-fielding in India's success in the longer format in the noughties is underappreciated. Dravid, Laxman, and Sachin had safe hands, at short leg for spinners or at slip for pacers.

In the current crop, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Murali Vijay have proved their mettle, but the same cannot be said about the rest. The situation was worse a couple of years ago, with catches dropped off spinners like Ashwin. When the ball nips off the seam and moves around in the air, the slip fielders should be on their toes to grab the whizzing red cherry.

Not many things can demoralize a seamer as a catch dropped off a wonderfully crafted delivery. Our players are young, so their reflexes can't be the issue, which points out to the lack of technique and poor judgment. Both this and the previous scenes can be resolved considerably if the problem of pitches is adequately addressed.