Haddin Warns Gill: India's Fielding Woes Demand 'Attitude Adjustment' Ahead of Edgbaston Test

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin has advised India's new Test captain, Shubman Gill, to make an "attitude adjustment" following India's five-wicket defeat to England in the first Test match of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy 2025 at Headingley.

India captain Shubman Gill.

The loss, despite India showcasing five centurions, was largely blamed on poor fielding. The team dropped eight catches across both innings, enabling England to successfully chase a target of 371 runs.

India's costly fielding errors particularly impacted England opener Ben Duckett. Duckett, dropped in both innings, went on to score 211 runs, including a match-winning 149 in the fourth innings. Duckett's performance earned him the Player of the Match award, securing England a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

"Every great team, regardless of the era, has always been a great fielding team. I think that is one legacy Gill has start to leave now on this team. He needs an attitude adjustment," Haddin stated on the Willow Talk podcast.

The former Australian keeper also highlighted potential issues arising from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, suggesting a possible link between the tournament and the declining catching standards.

"If you want to field well and compete constantly, it's all about attitude. You can do all the technical work off the field and have numerous coaches, but it won't matter. Even in the IPL this year, the catching was horrible. And that could be a byproduct," Haddin added.

The Indian team's fielding performance overshadowed their batting display, which saw them post competitive totals in both innings. The pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, struggled to make a significant impact and was further hindered by the dropped catches.

Team India is now preparing for the second Test match at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham from July 2-6, 2025. The team must address their fielding concerns to level the series.

England has announced their squad for the second Test, with Ben Stokes continuing as captain. The squad includes key players like Jofra Archer, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes, as they aim to build on their series lead.