Haddin Calls on Gill to 'Fix Attitude' Amid India's Fielding Woes Ahead of Edgbaston Test

Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has challenged India's newly appointed Test captain, Shubman Gill, to "adjust his attitude" following India's recent five-wicket defeat to England in the opening Test of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy 2025 at Headingley.

India captain Shubman Gill faces scrutiny after a disappointing Test match.

The loss, despite India showcasing strong batting with five centurions, was largely blamed on substandard fielding. The team's eight dropped catches across both innings proved costly, enabling England to successfully chase a target of 371 runs. Poor fielding was a major contributing factor in the defeat.

India's missed opportunities in the field were particularly detrimental in the case of England opener Ben Duckett. Duckett, dropped in both innings, capitalized by scoring 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, regardless of the era, has consistently demonstrated exceptional fielding prowess. I believe this is a legacy Gill must now instill in this team. He needs to adjust his attitude," Haddin stated on the Willow Talk podcast. He emphasizes the importance of attitude in achieving fielding excellence.

The former Australian cricketer also alluded to potential issues arising from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, suggesting a correlation between the tournament and the decline in catching standards. The IPL may be contributing to fielding issues.

"If you aspire to field well and remain competitive, it all boils down to attitude. While technical training and coaching are valuable, they become irrelevant without the right mindset. Even during this year's IPL, the catching was notably poor, potentially as a consequence," Haddin elaborated.

The Indian team's subpar fielding overshadowed their commendable batting performance, where they managed to post competitive scores in both innings. The pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, struggled to make a significant impact, further compounded by the dropped catches. The Indian pace attack needs more support from the fielders.

Team India is currently preparing for the second Test match, scheduled to be held at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham from July 2-6, 2025. Addressing their fielding concerns is paramount for the team to level the series. Edgbaston Test is crucial for India to bounce back.

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