When Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped four catches in a single day at Headingley Stadium on June 25, 2025, it wasn’t just a bad day—it was a turning point. The 22-year-old opening batsman, once hailed for his explosive strokeplay, found himself at the center of a fielding storm that exposed a growing rift between raw talent and the gritty demands of Test cricket. India lost that match by 10 wickets, and the drops weren’t just mistakes; they were turning points in a series that had already been slipping away. What followed wasn’t just a reprimand—it was a full-scale fielding intervention.
From Headingley to the Sidelines
After the Leeds disaster, India national cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir didn’t wait for the next match. Jaiswal was pulled from the slip cordon. In his place, Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Shubman Gill rotated through the close-in positions. Jaiswal? He was on the practice ground with Gambhir and assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate, drilling flat catches on a rubber mat under the glare of floodlights. No spectators. No cameras. Just repetition.
"He’s not a bad fielder," said Ravichandran Ashwin on NDTV. "But he’s playing like he’s afraid to catch the ball. Like he’s hoping it’ll stick. That’s not cricket. That’s wishful thinking."
A Pattern of Contradictions
The Leeds incident wasn’t an outlier. It was the crescendo of a pattern. Back in December 2024, during the second Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Jaiswal dropped three catches on Day 4. Captain Rohit Sharma didn’t hold back—his frustration was visible on camera, his arms flailing as the ball slipped through Jaiswal’s fingers. "That was a simple catch," Sharma muttered to his teammates. "You don’t get second chances in Test cricket."
Then, just days later, in the same series, Jaiswal took a stunning catch to dismiss Steve Smith in Sydney on January 5, 2025. The ball came off the edge, low and sharp, skimming past the wicketkeeper. Jaiswal lunged, fingers splayed, and held on. The crowd roared. The Indian dugout exhaled. It was a moment that made you wonder: was this the same player?
And then, on October 4, 2025, against West Indies in Kingston, he produced another gem—a low, diving catch to dismiss Shai Hope. The ball was skidding, almost along the turf. Most fielders would’ve let it go. Jaiswal didn’t. He got down, got his hands under it, and held on like his career depended on it. It did.
Short-Leg Woes and the Pant Reprimand
But the most revealing moment came not in the slips, but at short-leg. During the December 2024 Test against South Africa in Guwahati, stand-in captain Rishabh Pant grabbed the mic after Jaiswal failed to react to a sharp edge. "Stretch your hands out… How will you catch? Bring your hands out. Just pushing your feet wouldn’t do. Bring your hands out," Pant snapped, the audio later leaked by Firstpost.
Former batter Cheteshwar Pujara, commentating that day, didn’t hold back either. "No batter wants to be at short-leg," he said. "But here, Yashasvi isn’t even trying to look like he belongs there. It reminds me of Dhawan—same posture, same hesitation. It’s not about skill. It’s about attitude."
Chappell’s Diagnosis: Confidence, Not Technique
Cricket legend Greg Chappell offered the most nuanced take. "India missed several catches in Leeds," he said. "Jaiswal and Jadeja were involved. But both are normally reliable. These weren’t technical errors. The ball didn’t slip. It just didn’t stick. He’s not catching—it’s like he’s waiting for it to be caught. That’s a confidence issue. Or maybe a hand injury he’s hiding. In white-ball cricket, fielders get fewer chances to practice high-pressure catches. You need to simulate match conditions. Not just catch flat balls on a net."
It’s a point echoed by many former players: the rise of T20 cricket has created a generation of batsmen who can hit sixes but struggle to react to sharp edges. Slip fielding, once a specialist’s domain, now demands every opener to be a glove-man. Jaiswal’s case isn’t unique—it’s emblematic.
What’s Next for Jaiswal?
The coaching staff isn’t giving up. They’ve shifted him to forward short leg and silly point—positions where his reflexes might shine without the pressure of high, looping catches. The hope? That by repositioning him, they can rebuild his confidence before reintroducing him to the slips.
There’s also a quiet understanding: Jaiswal is still 22. He’s scored two centuries in his first 10 Tests. He’s got the tools. But Test cricket doesn’t forgive hesitation. Not for long.
As Ashwin put it: "You can’t be a half-fielder in Test cricket. You’re either all in—or you’re a liability."
Historical Echoes
It’s easy to forget that even legends struggled. Sachin Tendulkar dropped catches early in his career. Rahul Dravid wasn’t always the immovable slip wall he became. Even Shikhar Dhawan, mentioned by Pujara, was once criticized for his close-in fielding—until he worked relentlessly on it.
Jaiswal’s journey is no different. The drops in Leeds? They’re a scar. The catch in Sydney? A promise. The question isn’t whether he can field. It’s whether he’ll believe he can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Yashasvi Jaiswal removed from the slip cordon after the Headingley Test?
Jaiswal dropped four catches during India’s loss to England at Headingley on June 25, 2025, including two on Day 2 that directly extended England’s innings. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management concluded his fielding was costing the team wickets, so he was replaced by Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair, and others in the slips while he underwent intensive flat-catching drills with assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate.
Has Jaiswal ever taken a good catch in Test cricket?
Yes. On January 5, 2025, he took a brilliant low catch to dismiss Steve Smith in Sydney, and on October 4, 2025, he produced a stunning, diving catch to remove Shai Hope against West Indies. Both catches were judged among the best of the series, proving his ability under pressure—just not consistently.
What did Rishabh Pant say to Jaiswal during the South Africa Test?
On stump mic during the December 2024 Test in Guwahati, Pant told Jaiswal, "Stretch your hands out… How will you catch? Bring your hands out. Just pushing your feet wouldn’t do." The comment highlighted Jaiswal’s tendency to rely on foot movement rather than active hand positioning—a flaw that led to missed chances at short-leg.
Is Jaiswal’s fielding issue due to technique or confidence?
Greg Chappell and former players believe it’s confidence, not technique. The drops weren’t due to poor hands or misjudgment—they were moments where Jaiswal hesitated, as if waiting for the ball to be caught rather than actively seizing it. This aligns with broader concerns about white-ball cricket reducing exposure to high-pressure slip catching.
How is the Indian team helping Jaiswal improve his fielding?
He’s training separately with head coach Gautam Gambhir and assistant Ryan Ten Doeschate on flat catching drills designed to mimic real-game trajectories. He’s also being rotated to forward short leg and silly point to rebuild his confidence in close-in positions before potentially returning to the slips. The focus is on repetition and mental reprogramming, not just physical correction.
Could Jaiswal’s fielding issues affect his Test future?
Absolutely. India has depth in openers—Sai Sudharsan, Yashasvi’s own replacement in the slips, is already in the mix. If Jaiswal doesn’t show consistent improvement in the next 3-4 Tests, his place could be in jeopardy. Test cricket demands all-round reliability. Batting alone isn’t enough anymore.