Haddin Calls for 'Attitude Adjustment' from Gill After India's Test Defeat

Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has critiqued Shubman Gill's captaincy following India's recent loss to England in the first Test match of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy 2025. Haddin suggests that Gill needs to make an "attitude adjustment" to improve the team's performance, particularly in the field.

India captain Shubman Gill (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

India's five-wicket defeat was significantly impacted by their poor fielding, with the team dropping eight catches across both innings. This allowed England to chase down a target of 371 runs successfully. Ben Duckett of England, who was dropped in both innings, capitalized on these errors, scoring 211 runs, including a crucial 149 in the fourth innings.

Duckett's impressive performance earned him the Player of the Match award, securing a 1-0 lead for England in the five-match series.

"Every great team, no matter what year you're playing, the one standout feature they've always had is that they've been a great fielding team. And I think that is one legacy Gill has start to leave now on this team. He needs an attitude adjustment," Haddin stated on the Willow Talk podcast.

Haddin also raised concerns about the potential impact of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on fielding standards. He indicated a possible correlation between the tournament and the declining quality of catching.

"If you want to field well and compete the whole time, it's only attitude. You can do all your technical work off the field and have as many coaches as anyone, but it won't matter. Even in the IPL this year, the catching was horrible. And that could be a byproduct," Haddin added, highlighting the importance of mental fortitude in fielding.

Despite India's competitive batting totals in both innings, their efforts were overshadowed by the fielding lapses. The pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, also struggled to make a significant impact, further compounded by the dropped catches.

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

England has already announced their squad for the second Test, with Ben Stokes continuing as captain. Key players such as Jofra Archer, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes are included in the squad as they aim to extend their lead in the series.