India's fielding performance in the first Test against England has come under intense scrutiny, with legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressing his disappointment and suggesting that the team doesn't deserve the fielding medals usually awarded by fielding coach T Dilip. The concern stems from India's sloppy display on Day 2 of the match at Headingley, where they dropped several crucial catches, allowing England to capitalize and build a substantial innings.

Gavaskar wasn't alone in his criticism. India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, also acknowledged the team's subpar fielding, attributing it to "one of those unfortunate days" while maintaining that it's not the norm for this Indian side. However, the timing of the lapses couldn't have been worse, as they occurred after India had initially gained a strong position in the Test, having scored 471 in their first innings.

Specifically, Yashasvi Jaiswal came under fire for dropping Ben Duckett early in his innings, a mistake compounded by Ravindra Jadeja also putting down Duckett, who went on to score 62 runs. Ollie Pope, who later reached a century, was also dropped. Gavaskar didn't mince words, stating that Jaiswal "hasn't been able to hold on to anything this time," highlighting the overall disappointing effort in the field.

Following the criticism, former India pacer Varun Aaron has urged head coach Gautam Gambhir to intervene. Aaron suggested that Gambhir should advise captain Shubman Gill to consider changing fielding positions, particularly suggesting a move to the slips to add stability to the catching department.

It's worth noting that Gautam Gambhir has previously emphasized the importance of not judging young players after every single innings, urging fans and media to support them through periods of hardship. He has specifically spoken about Shubman Gill's potential in Test cricket, asking for patience and trust in his abilities. In February 2025, Gambhir stated that Gill "has got a great future ahead of him" and that consistently performing in the ODI format suggests he has the capability to succeed in Test cricket as well.

However, in light of the recent fielding concerns, it seems that a more direct conversation might be necessary. Gambhir could use his experience and understanding of Gill's capabilities to find a solution that improves the team's fielding performance without putting undue pressure on the young captain. It remains to be seen whether Gambhir will heed the advice to have a chat with Gill about fielding positions or address the issue in another way.