Mohammed Kaif, one of the best fielders India had ever produced has pointed out the reasons why Yashasvi Jaiswal is dropping so many catches. Jaiswal had dropped four crucial catches against England in Leeds which cost India dearly and the visitors lost the match by five wickets as England chase down 371 runs on the final day. In the first innings, Ollie Pope attempted to guide a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah through the slip cordon but ended up edging it thickly. Positioned in the cordon, Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to grab the chance as the ball struck his wrists and fell to the ground. Pope capitalised on the reprieve and went on to score 106.
Later in the same innings, Jaiswal put down another opportunity—this time offering a lifeline to Harry Brook. Brook, trying to steer Bumrah past the slips, edged it towards Jaiswal at fourth slip, who couldn’t hold on to a straightforward catch.In England’s second innings, Mohammed Siraj bowled a bouncer with a packed leg-side field. Jaiswal sprinted in from the deep, covered good ground, and got both hands to the ball, but failed to complete the catch. Siraj’s frustration was evident, while Duckett—who benefited from the dropped chance—went on to score a match-winning 149.Kaif blamed the strap which Jaiswal has put around his hands playing a key role in youngster spilling so many catches.“Why is Yashasvi Jaiswal dropping catches? We are practicing with Duke’s ball, and when we get hurt, we put a strap,” Kaif said in a video posted on X. “In such a situation, the fingers are stuck and there is no free movement. You can’t hold onto the catch because the strap becomes a sponge. “The ball bounces off it, so that’s the drawback. The natural connection with the ball shouldn’t be lost.” The second Test between India and England will start from July 2 in Birmingham.
