Yashasvi Jaiswal's century in the first innings at Headingley was one of the few bright spots for India in the opening Test against England. But while his batting caught the eye, his fielding came under the scanner.
The 23-year-old dropped as many as four catches during England's innings: most of them in the slips. This has raised serious questions about his position in India's fielding set-up.
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As a consequence of repeated dropped catches during key moments of the first Test, he was replaced at slips in Headingley. It remains to be seen if he will return to the cordon for Edgbaston.
But that brings us to the question: who has been the most reliable fielder for India in Test matches? The Sporting News compares the catching stats of the top Indian Test players since 2024.
Most catches by Indian fielders in Tests since 2024
Jaiswal's drop tally has drawn criticism but it is worth noting that he has also been one of India's busiest fielders - tied at the top for most catches taken since the start of 2024. However, the volume comes with a caveat: he has dropped seven as well.
According to cricket.com, here is how the top Indian fielders stack up.
| Player | Catches Taken | Dropped | Catch Efficiency |
| KL Rahul | 18 | 5 | 78.3% |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 18 | 7 | 72% |
| Rohit Sharma | 17 | 7 | 70.8% |
| Shubman Gill | 12 | 0 | 100% |
| Virat Kohli | 11 | 2 | 84.6% |
Which Indian player has the most reliable pair of hands in Tests since 2024?
When it comes to making the most of opportunities, Shubman Gill leads the way. The young captain has not dropped a single catch across 12 attempts, giving him a perfect record.
Kohli and Rahul follow closely while Jaiswal trails with a drop rate that could explain the potential change in India's slip set-up.
| Player | Catches Taken | Dropped | Catch Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 12 | 0 | 100% |
| Virat Kohli | 11 | 2 | 84.6% |
| KL Rahul | 18 | 5 | 78.3% |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 18 | 7 | 72% |
| Rohit Sharma | 17 | 7 | 70.8% |
Will Yashasvi Jaiswal be removed from slip cordon for Edgbaston Test?
According to a report by Revsportz, Jaiswal didn't field in the slips during India's latest training session. Instead, Karun Nair, Rahul, and Gill handled the first three slip positions while Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy rotated at fourth slip and gully.
Meanwhile, Jaiswal was seen receiving one-on-one fielding guidance from head coach Gautam Gambhir. Whether this reshuffle improves India's fielding fortunes remains to be seen, but for now, the numbers offer a clear picture of who the team trusts under the high ball.