Solution for Yashasvi Jaiswal dropping catches? Place Sai Sudharsan in slips instead, says Manjrekar

Yashasvi Jaiswal has learned why the longest format of the sport is called Test cricket for a reason the hard way. The 23-year-old couldn’t have started the India vs England 1st Test on a better note. By the end of the first day in Headingley, he’d scored a century and became the first player in history to hit hundreds in their first matches in Australia and England.

Jaiswal after Day 1: Dropped catches and batting failure

By the end of day three, people are taking aim at the youngster. Why? Well, because he dropped three catches. And then, scored just 4 runs in the second innings. While the first chance was very difficult, the other two were regulation catches.

Jaiswal grassed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope on Day 2. Duckett was batting on 15 and then scored 62. Pope was on 60 and then made 106. The last drop came on Day 3 when Harry Brook was batting on 83 and departed for 99. Combined, all three scored 109 runs. And in the end, India managed to gain a meager 6-run lead.

Take Jaiswal out of the slips

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar suggests that Team India take Jaiswal out from the slips for the remainder of the India vs England 1st Test. He thinks Sai Sudharsan, who was expected to be in the slips, should come in for Jaiswal. And further added that India should always train a couple for slip fielding, apart from the regulars.

“In Australia and the series before that (New Zealand at home), I saw Yashasvi Jaiswal take a couple of very good catches in the gully. He made that position his own. I said at the time that India had found a great gully fielder. But in this Test match, he’s dropped 3 catches. You’ve got to feel sorry for Jaiswal because he has some talent for taking catches.

To be a long-term slip catch, generally, you take all your catches and there will be an odd one you miss. At this stage, you’ve got to remain skeptical about Jaiswal as your long-term slip fielder. The best of slip catchers could have a terrible day. At this stage, it’s not about being kind or encouraging to Jaiswal. Maybe it’s just not his Test match and get somebody else in. Then you think, who else? Because India already has 4 slips and gully on occasion.

The one guy who I think could be in that position is Sai Sudharsan. That is where the preparations matter. When you do your morning drills and slip catching, have one or two backup slip fielders taking catches. Shubman Gill likes a wide slip cordon and Jaiswal or anybody else having a bad day; you’ve got to have an option,” Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.