Jaiswal's Fielding Under Fire: Old Catching Errors Resurface After Headingley Test Blunders

Jaiswal's Fielding Woes Under Scrutiny After Headingley Test

Despite a magnificent century by Yashasvi Jaiswal on the first day of the Leeds Test, his performance in the field has come under intense scrutiny.

The 23-year-old Indian cricketer had a difficult time, dropping four catches during the match. England ultimately secured a five-wicket victory in the Headingley Test. This performance also marks Jaiswal as the first Indian cricketer to drop four catches in a single Test innings.

Following the Leeds Test, an older video has resurfaced, showcasing Jaiswal missing three opportunities in the field during Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

However, Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has defended Yashasvi Jaiswal's fielding performance.

"Catches do get dropped. The best fielders have missed catches. None of them did it on purpose," Gambhir stated.

Jasprit Bumrah also commented on the missed chances in the field.

"Drop catches, I understand nobody is doing it on purpose. And obviously, everyone is trying their best. In cold weather, the ball is sometimes difficult to sight over here as well. So, I do understand. But yes, some things are part and parcel of the game," Bumrah explained.

Former India off-spinner R Ashwin has also encouraged fans and critics to show understanding towards Jaiswal.

"There has been some talk about his catching in the slip cordon. Yes, he has found it tough. But let’s all just understand something — and cut him some slack — which we often fail to do: how difficult it is to catch, not just in English conditions," Ashwin stated in a video on X.

"It’s cold weather, and it’s also about the feel of the Dukes ball. It can take some adaptation time. The SG ball feels nice and comfortable in the hand; the Kookaburra feels smaller. The Dukes is harder and, from a feel perspective, feels bigger. It’s not easy," Ashwin added.