Following India's recent Test defeat against England at Headingley, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has stepped forward, echoing concerns previously voiced by Sunil Gavaskar, regarding Yashasvi Jaiswal's fielding performance. Jaiswal, who had a mixed outing, scoring a century but also dropping multiple crucial catches, has become a focal point of analysis.
Gavaskar initially expressed his disappointment with India's overall fielding, stating it was "not Test class" and urging the team to focus on practice rather than optional sessions. He specifically highlighted the webbing worn by fielders, suggesting that regulations should prevent it from extending past the intersection of the finger and palm, likening excessive webbing to wearing gloves. Gavaskar's critique extended beyond Jaiswal, as he was unhappy about India's fielding standards in general, asserting that there should be no fielding medal given.
Kaif, known for his exceptional fielding during his playing days, offered a more technical explanation for Jaiswal's struggles. He suggested that the straps Jaiswal wears on his hands for protection might be hindering his catching ability. According to Kaif, these straps can restrict finger movement, preventing a secure grip on the ball. He explained that the strap acts like a sponge, causing the ball to bounce off, thus disrupting the natural connection between hand and ball necessary for successful catching.
Jaiswal dropped a total of four catches during the Test, a statistic that has drawn considerable criticism. In the first innings, he gave reprieves to Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett, and Harry Brook, all of whom went on to make significant contributions to England's score. Pope scored 106, Brook made 99 and Duckett added 62 runs. In the second innings, Jaiswal dropped Duckett again, who was then on 97; Duckett then went on to score a match-winning 149.
Former India fielding coach R Sridhar defended Jaiswal, stating that he is actually an excellent gully fielder. He added that it's easy to sit in the commentary box and criticise, but these are challenging conditions, and for many of them, it's their first experience of this environment. Sridhar did mention that India's ground fielding level was not good at all.
Despite the criticism, some have pointed out the challenging conditions in England, including the cold weather and the movement of the Duke's ball, which can make fielding difficult, especially in the slip cordon. Stuart Broad highlighted the difficult viewing conditions, especially with overcast skies, shifting crowd colours, and inconsistent lighting creating visual illusions. Jasprit Bumrah also noted that the team was unaccustomed to the slope at Headingley, which affects balance and angles in the slips.
The dropped catches had a tangible impact on the match. It has been estimated that the eight dropped chances during the Test match cost India approximately 250 runs.
As India prepares for the second Test in Birmingham, fielding remains a key area of concern. While the batting has shown promise, the team needs to address its fielding lapses to bounce back in the series.
