Gill Faces 'Attitude Adjustment' Call as Fielding Woes Haunt India Ahead of Edgbaston Test: Former Aussie Keeper Haddin

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin has issued a warning to India's newly appointed Test captain, Shubman Gill, urging him to make an "attitude adjustment" following India's recent defeat to England in the first Test match of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy 2025. The loss, suffered by five wickets at Headingley, has prompted concerns about the team's fielding standards.

India captain Shubman Gill (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Despite India boasting five centurions in the match, their poor fielding performance proved costly. The team dropped a staggering eight catches across both innings, ultimately enabling England to successfully chase down a target of 371 runs.

Key Takeaways:

• India's Fielding Woes: Dropped catches significantly impacted the outcome of the first Test.
• Ben Duckett's Impact: England opener Ben Duckett capitalized on dropped chances, scoring a crucial 211 runs.
• Haddin's Warning: Brad Haddin calls for an "attitude adjustment" from Shubman Gill regarding the team's fielding.

The dropped catches were particularly detrimental in the case of England opener Ben Duckett, who was dropped in both innings. Duckett went on to score 211 runs, including a match-winning 149 in the fourth innings. His stellar performance earned him the Player of the Match award and propelled England to a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

"Every great team, no matter what year you're playing, the one standout feature they've always had is that they've been a great fielding team. And I think that is one legacy Gill has to start to leave now on this team. He needs an attitude adjustment," Haddin stated on the Willow Talk podcast.

Haddin also suggested that the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 could be contributing to the declining catching standards. "If you want to field well and compete the whole time, it's only attitude. You can do all your technical work off the field and have as many coaches as anyone, but it won't matter. Even in the IPL this year, the catching was horrible. And that could be a byproduct," Haddin added.

Despite a strong batting display, India's pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, struggled to capitalize due to the missed opportunities in the field.

Team India is now gearing up for the second Test match, scheduled to be held at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham from July 2-6, 2025. The team will need to address their fielding deficiencies to level the series.

England has already announced their squad for the second Test, with Ben Stokes continuing to lead the side. The squad features key players such as Jofra Archer, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes, as they aim to extend their lead in the series.