Yashasvi Jaiswal's recent struggles in the slip cordon during the first Test against England in Leeds have led to significant changes in India's fielding setup. The young opener's absence from the main slip cordon during a training session ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston has sparked considerable discussion and speculation.

Jaiswal had a difficult outing in the first Test, dropping four crucial catches. These missed opportunities proved costly for India, as England capitalized and secured a five-wicket victory to take a 1-0 lead in the series. One particularly significant drop occurred when Ben Duckett was on 97; Duckett went on to score 149, contributing heavily to England's match-defining innings.

In response to these fielding lapses, the Indian team management appears to be recalibrating roles and intensifying their focus on sharper fielding. During a recent training session, Jaiswal was notably absent from the slip cordon. Instead, he was seen practicing close-in fielding drills at short leg and silly point. Meanwhile, Sai Sudharsan was observed fielding in the slips alongside other players. The slip cordon during the training session comprised Karun Nair at first slip, KL Rahul at second, and Shubman Gill at third. Nitish Kumar Reddy also rotated in the slip positions.

To simulate real-match pressure, the team employed a unique training technique. Fielding coach T Dilip used a black cloth to create a blind spot, from behind which he flung catches to the slip fielders. This exercise aimed to test their reflexes and reactions in unpredictable scenarios.

While Jaiswal's exclusion from slip fielding in training has raised eyebrows, some voices within the team have downplayed the situation. After the conclusion of Day 3 of the first Test, Jasprit Bumrah emphasized that the players are still young and that dropped catches are unintentional and a part of the game. He added that he tries not to overreact to the mistakes and trusts that the players will learn from them.

Despite the dropped catches, Jaiswal has shown promise with the bat. In the first Test, he scored a century, becoming the first Indian batter to register a three-digit score in his first match in both England and Australia.

According to Aussie legend Greg Chappell, Jaiswal's dropped catches may be attributed to a lack of confidence or a possible hand injury. Chappell also noted the decreasing opportunities for specialist slip fielders in the age of white-ball cricket, emphasizing the importance of practice that closely mimics game situations.

The second Test is set to begin on July 2 in Birmingham.