Former India speedster Varun Aaron urged head coach Gautam Gambhir to advise skipper Shubman Gill to take over a position in the slips after having stationed himself at mid-on or mid-off during the innings. Aaron's suggestion came after the first-innings centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal handed early lifelines to Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope with regulation chances going down in the slip cordon.
Apart from that, India's star fielder Ravindra Jadeja put down a straightforward catch of Ben Duckett at backwards point from Bumrah’s bowling. While Duckett paced his way to 62, the under-fire Pope fought his way through to a ninth Test hundred and second against India.
“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 said on ESPN Cricinfo
“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.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also opened up on the wasted opportunities and the no-balls shortly before the close of play from Bumrah, one that deprived him of Harry Brook’s wicket for nought.
“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 day 2 press conference.
Coming back to the match, the first session of Day 3 is going in India's favour as Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj picked up one wicket each. While writing this copy, England are trailing by 148 runs.