Former India fielding coach R. Sridhar has offered strong support for Yashasvi Jaiswal after the young opener faced widespread criticism for his fielding lapses during the first Test between India and England at Headingley, Leeds. Despite scoring up a superb century in the first innings, Jaiswal’s efforts were overshadowed by a string of dropped catches, as India went down to the hosts by five wickets.
Jaiswal was responsible for four of India’s eight dropped chances in the field, several of which came at key moments in the match. The collective lapses are estimated to have cost India as many as 250 runs – a figure that could well have altered the course of the game.
While critics were quick to lay the blame, Sridhar, who served as India’s fielding coach during a highly successful period, offered a more measured assessment. Speaking to Sportstar, he underlined the difficulty of fielding in English conditions – particularly for someone touring the country for the first time.
“Going on the first tour to England and adapting and being a good slip fielder is not an easy task. You can practice all you want, but in the match, it’s quite challenging. The conditions are very cold, so the fingers get very numb. And secondly, the Duke’s ball wobbles a lot as it comes towards you. It’s not easy to catch,” Sridhar said.
Sridhar also highlighted the challenges posed by specific English grounds, such as Headingley and The Oval.
“In England, sighting is very difficult. The Oval or Leeds are two of the most challenging grounds. Leeds has a slope which runs down from the pavilion side to the Kirkstall Lane end. And it’s very windy, and that messes with your rhythm and depth perception. Even England dropped catches. It’s not always about ability – often, it’s about conditions,” he added.
Despite the high-profile mistakes, Sridhar reaffirmed his faith in Jaiswal’s fielding abilities, pointing to past examples of his sharpness in the field.
“He’s actually an excellent gully fielder. Make no mistake. He’s had just two bad games – one in Melbourne, one here in Leeds. Otherwise, he’s been exceptional. The catches he took against Bangladesh in Kanpur were outstanding.
Addressing the tone of recent criticism, Sridhar called for greater understanding and patience.
“It’s easy to sit in the commentary box and criticise, but these are challenging conditions. And for many of them, it’s their first experience of this environment.”
With four Tests remaining in the series, India will be hoping Jaiswal can put this performance behind him. Backed by experience and encouragement from figures like Sridhar, the 22-year-old will look to bounce back – not just with the bat, but also in the field.
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