Yashasvi Jaiswal Faces Backlash After Fielding Blunders in Test Against England

Disappointing Performance by Yashasvi Jaiswal

In the ongoing first Test of the five-match series against England at Headingley, young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had a mixed outing. He managed to score a century in the first innings but faltered in the second, contributing only four runs. However, his lackluster fielding overshadowed his batting achievements.

As the final day of the match unfolds, England is set to chase a daunting target of 371 runs after India was dismissed for 364, thanks to impressive innings from KL Rahul (137) and Rishabh Pant (118).

Starting their innings with a score of 21/0, openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were at 12 and 9 runs, respectively, needing 350 more runs to secure victory. The duo built a solid partnership, demonstrating resilience against India's bowling attack.

Fielding Errors Haunt Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal's fielding has become a focal point of criticism during this Test match, particularly after he dropped four catches. In the first innings, he missed opportunities to dismiss Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook.

Duckett, who scored 62 runs off 44 balls, could have been dismissed early if Jaiswal had held onto a catch from Jasprit Bumrah. Similarly, Pope's innings could have ended at 60 instead of 106 had Jaiswal taken a catch at third slip. Additionally, he dropped a crucial catch of Harry Brook when he was on 83, who later went on to score 99.

The latest drop came during a critical moment when Duckett was batting on 98. Jaiswal attempted to catch a pull shot off Mohammed Siraj but failed to secure it, much to Siraj's frustration.

Fan Reactions to Jaiswal's Performance

Following the fourth dropped catch, fans took to social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to express their disappointment. Many criticized Jaiswal for his careless fielding, especially for missing a catch that could have prevented Duckett from reaching his century.

Some fans suggested that Jaiswal should be dropped from the team due to his repeated mistakes, arguing that such errors are unacceptable at the international level.

Comments on social media reflected the outrage, with fans highlighting the importance of accountability in the team. One user remarked on the potential backlash another player might face for similar mistakes, emphasizing the need for high standards in fielding.

Match Progression

As the match continued, England reached 181/0 after 41 overs, with Duckett and Crawley scoring 105 and 59, respectively. They needed 190 runs to win when rain interrupted play.

Upon resumption, India finally made a breakthrough as Prasidh Krishna dismissed Crawley at 188/1, ending a strong opening partnership. Krishna then took out Ollie Pope for 8 at 206/2, providing India with some relief in their efforts to defend the 371-run target.