Jaiswal's Fielding Under Fire: Headingley Errors Spark Recall of MCG Catching Mishaps

Jaiswal's Fielding Woes Under Scrutiny: Old Catching Errors Resurface After Headingley Test

Yashasvi Jaiswal experienced a mixed bag of fortunes during the recent Leeds Test. While he shone with a century in the first innings, his performance in the field was notably subpar.

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 young Indian cricketer dropped a total of four catches throughout the match, contributing to England's eventual five-wicket victory at Headingley. This also marked a regrettable milestone, making Jaiswal the first Indian player to drop four catches in a single Test innings.

In the wake of his difficult performance in Leeds, a video has resurfaced, highlighting past fielding struggles. The footage captures Jaiswal missing three opportunities during Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

Despite the criticism, Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has come to Jaiswal's defense. "Catches do get dropped. The best fielders have missed catches. None of them did it on purpose," Gambhir stated, emphasizing the unintentional nature of such errors.

Jasprit Bumrah echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the challenges faced by fielders. "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 also urged 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 said 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, highlighting the specific difficulties posed by the conditions and the type of ball used.