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India's young batters Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored century in the first innings of the first innings of the Headingley Test. The centuries came in the first Test since Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's retirement from the format. While India put on 471 in their absence, they missed their presence in the slip cordon. India dropped as many as three catches on Day 2. Jaiswal dropped two whereas Ravindra Jadeja, one of the safest pairs of hands in world cricket, dropped one as well. All the catches were dropped off Jasprit Bumrah's bowling. After the substandard fielding display, former Indian pacer Varun Aaron wants head coach Gautam Gambhir to talk to Gill and ask him to be in the slip cordon.
"Dropped chances, in the end, they cost you games. Jaiswal dropped one before Jaddu, it would have been a sharp catch, but you have to back him to take those chances. Cam Green, for Australia, takes these without a fuss. I would say Jaiswal can be up there, but he has dropped two now. One of those days where it does not go for you," Aaron, Gill's former Gujarat Titans (GT) teammate, said on ESPNCricinfo.
"Shubman Gill has been standing at mid on and mid off, one of the better slip fielders in India. I would back Shubman to be in the slips and take these catches, especially in England. Maybe Gambhir will have a chat with him, and be like, 'You can speak to the bowler in between overs and stuff like that, but we need you in the slips'," he added.
What batting coach said on dropped catches
After Day 2's play, India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also rued missed chances. He said that it was one of the unfortunate days for Indian fielders in the middle.
"Those dropped catches and the no-ball were definitely disappointing. Usually, we're sharper in the field. But as a support staff and team, we take it as one of those unfortunate days — not the norm. Overall, we bowled well barring a few loose patches. There was something in the wicket, and we tried to make the most of it," Kotak said in the post-match press conference.
England were 209/3 after 49 overs at Day 2, Stumps. The hosts still trail by 262 runs in the series opener.
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