Former India fielding coach R Sridhar has spoken in support of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has faced harsh criticism for his poor fielding during the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. Jaiswal had started the match impressively. On his first tour of England, he hit a superb century on Day 1 alongside captain Shubman Gill, helping India reach a strong total of 359/3 by stumps. However, the momentum didn’t last.
Fielding Mistakes Shifted the Game
After a good start with the bat, Jaiswal struggled in the field. He was dismissed cheaply in the second innings and then dropped four catches during the remaining days of the match. One of those drops gave a crucial life to Ben Duckett, who was batting during England’s chase of a 371-run target.
Along with batting collapses and average bowling from others apart from Jasprit Bumrah, India’s fielding errors cost them dearly. England went on to win the match by five wickets and took a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series.
Sridhar Says Conditions Were Tough in Leeds
After India’s loss, R Sridhar defended the young opener. Speaking to Sportstar, he said that tough weather conditions at Headingley played a major role in Jaiswal’s mistakes. “He’s actually an excellent gully fielder. Make no mistake,” Sridhar said.
“He’s had just two bad games — one in Melbourne, one here in Leeds. Otherwise, he’s been exceptional. The catches he took against Bangladesh in Kanpur were outstanding.”
Sridhar also noted that it’s unfair to judge players too harshly from afar. “It’s easy to sit in the commentary box and criticise, but these are challenging conditions, and for many of them, it’s their first experience of this environment,” he added.
Others Also Missed Chances
Though Jaiswal drew the most attention, he wasn’t the only one who dropped catches. On Day 2, even top fielder Ravindra Jadeja missed a catch at backward point, and later, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant also let a chance go.
Moreover, England’s fielders were not flawless either. Ben Duckett and Harry Brook dropped catches in India’s second innings, giving reprieves to Sai Sudharsan and KL Rahul, who went on to score a century.
Ground Fielding Still a Concern, Says Sridhar
While Sridhar defended the missed catches, he was critical of India’s ground fielding. He felt that was an area players could control more easily. “The standard of ground fielding which is exhibited is not acceptable,” Sridhar stated.
“Unlike catching, ground fielding is something which is totally in your control. You should know which ball to put your body behind, which ball to attack, which ball to play safe.”
India Eyes a Comeback at Edgbaston
India will now look to bounce back in the second Test, which starts on 2 July at Edgbaston, Birmingham. With Shubman Gill leading the side, the team will aim to level the series and regain momentum.
