Talking about specialists, in the upcoming New Zealand tour, slip fielding could be of vital importance. How has your preparation been?

• We (the think tank) know the conditions we are likely to encounter there. We have about 4-5 players who are very good in that position. Moreover, we are working to get a back-up as well, not just for slip fielding but at all other positions, so the options are always available.

Often, fielding positions are correlated with seniority. The juniors man the outfield in one-dayers and silly-point in Tests, but you have changed the trend.

• In fielding, there’s nothing like a senior or junior. If a senior player is the best man to field at silly-point, then he will stand there. Everybody in this team knows who is going to stand where and there’s no fear in any player to avoid an area. I speak to player concerned, take his view on what he feels his best position is and also make my own judgment on a player’s strengths. Then I pass on the information to the skipper who makes the optimum use of it.

In the current team, whom do you consider as your best case study?

• Ishant Sharma. When he started off in international cricket, he was an ordinary fielder. But he has put in a lot of effort recently. For a tall guy like him to bend down, slide and dive especially after a spell of fast bowling is creditable. In fact, the entire fast bowling department — Munaf (Patel), Zaheer (Khan) — has made me proud with an improved show in the field. RP Singh is the most natural fielder among the lot.

... contd.