Yashasvi Jaiswal's Fielding Under Fire: Old Catching Errors Resurface After Headingley Test hoặc Jaiswal's Fielding Struggles Intensify: Video of Dropped Catches at MCG Emerges Amid Headingley Criticism

Jaiswal's Fielding Woes Under Scrutiny After Headingley Test

Following Yashasvi Jaiswal's costly dropped catches in the Headingley Test, an old video showcasing similar struggles has resurfaced, putting the young cricketer's fielding skills under the spotlight.

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)

Despite his impressive century in the first innings, Jaiswal endured a difficult time on the field during the recent Headingley Test against England. The 23-year-old spilled four crucial catches, contributing to England's five-wicket victory. This performance also marked him as the first Indian cricketer to drop four catches in a single Test innings.

The pressure on Jaiswal has intensified with the emergence of a video highlighting his fielding struggles during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The video shows him missing three opportunities on Day 4 of the match.

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

Jasprit Bumrah echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the difficulty of fielding in certain conditions. "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," he said.

Former India off-spinner R Ashwin also came to Jaiswal's defense, urging fans and critics to offer the youngster some leniency.

"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.

He further elaborated on the challenges of fielding with the Dukes ball in cold weather, highlighting the adaptation required. "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.