Jaiswal's Fielding Under Fire: Headingley Errors Spark Recall of MCG Drop Compilation

Jaiswal's Fielding Woes Under Scrutiny After Headingley Test

Following Yashasvi Jaiswal's outstanding century on the first day of the Leeds Test, his fielding performance has come under intense scrutiny.

LEEDS, ENGLAND - JUNE 24: Yashasvi Jaiswal of India drops Ben Duckett of England during day 5 of the 1st Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Headingley on June 24, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The 23-year-old had a difficult time in the field, dropping four catches during the match. This contributed to England's five-wicket victory in the Headingley Test. Notably, Jaiswal became the first Indian cricketer to drop four catches in a single Test innings.

Adding to the concern, an old video of Jaiswal has resurfaced. The video shows him missing three fielding opportunities on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Despite the criticism, Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has defended Yashasvi Jaiswal. "Catches do get dropped. The best fielders have missed catches. None of them did it on purpose," Gambhir stated.

Jasprit Bumrah also addressed the dropped chances, saying, "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."

Former India off-spinner R Ashwin has also spoken out, urging fans and critics to give Jaiswal some slack.

"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 explained in a video on X.

He added, "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."