Yashasvi Jaiswal's fielding performance in the first Test against England at Headingley has come under scrutiny after the young opener dropped multiple catches. Despite scoring a century in the first innings, his fielding lapses were costly, contributing to India's five-wicket defeat.

Jaiswal was responsible for four of the eight dropped chances by the Indian team, which collectively cost an estimated 250 runs. These missed opportunities proved critical as England successfully chased down the target of 371. Specifically, Jaiswal dropped Ben Duckett twice, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook, who all went on to score significant runs.

Former India fielding coach R. Sridhar has defended Jaiswal, emphasizing the difficulty of fielding in English conditions, especially for players on their first tour. Sridhar highlighted the challenges posed by cold weather, which can numb fingers, and the unpredictable movement of the Duke's ball. He also pointed out that grounds like Headingley and The Oval are particularly challenging due to their slopes and windy conditions, which can affect depth perception.

Sridhar stressed that adapting to English conditions and being a good slip fielder is not easy, regardless of how much one practices. He also noted that even the English team dropped catches, indicating that it's not always about ability but often about the conditions.

While acknowledging the severity of the errors, Sridhar maintained faith in Jaiswal's fielding abilities, citing his excellent performance in previous matches. He specifically mentioned Jaiswal's outstanding catches against Bangladesh in Kanpur. Sridhar argued that Jaiswal has only had "two bad games," referring to a previous instance in Melbourne and the recent one in Leeds. He urged critics to consider the challenging circumstances and the fact that many players are experiencing these conditions for the first time.

However, not all views are as lenient. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment with the overall fielding performance of the team. Stuart Broad also criticized the team for dropping crucial catches. Gavaskar's criticism was met with a retort from Sridhar, who found it easy to sit in the commentary box and criticize.

Mohammad Kaif, known for his exceptional fielding, offered a technical explanation for Jaiswal's dropped catches. Kaif suggested that the straps Jaiswal uses on his fingers might be hindering his catching ability. He explained that the straps can restrict finger movement and create a "sponge" effect, causing the ball to bounce out.

Despite the criticism, Sridhar has called for patience and understanding, emphasizing that these are challenging conditions, especially for those new to the environment. With the remaining Tests in the series, there is an expectation that Jaiswal will learn from this experience and bounce back, improving both his batting and fielding performances.

India will be hoping Jaiswal can put this performance behind him. Backed by experience and encouragement from figures like Sridhar, the 22-year-old will look to bounce back - not just with the bat, but also in the field.