Haddin to Gill: 'Attitude Adjustment Needed' After India's Fielding Woes in First Test

Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has urged India's new Test captain, Shubman Gill, to make a crucial "attitude adjustment" following India's recent defeat to England in the first Test of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy 2025. The loss, suffered by five wickets at Headingley, has prompted concerns about India's fielding performance.

Despite India boasting five centurions throughout the match, their poor fielding proved costly, with eight dropped catches across both innings. This ultimately enabled England to successfully chase down a target of 371 runs.

The missed opportunities were particularly detrimental in the case of England opener Ben Duckett, who was dropped in both innings. Duckett capitalized on these errors, scoring a remarkable 211 runs, including a match-winning 149 in the fourth innings. His stellar performance earned him the Player of the Match award and secured England a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

"Every great team, no matter what year you're playing, the one standout feature they've always had is that they've been a great fielding team. And 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.

Haddin also suggested a possible connection between the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 and the perceived decline in catching standards. He emphasized that attitude is paramount when it comes to fielding.

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

While the Indian team showcased their batting prowess by posting competitive totals in both innings, their pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, struggled to make a significant impact, further compounded by the dropped catches.

Team India is now gearing up for the second Test match, which will be held at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham from July 2-6, 2025. Addressing their fielding concerns will be crucial for the team to level the series.

England has already announced their squad for the second Test, with Ben Stokes continuing as captain. The squad features key players such as Jofra Archer, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes, all aiming to build on their current series lead.