Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to be shifted from his gully fielding position following a string of dropped catches in the first Test against England at Headingley. The young opener's fielding performance has come under scrutiny, with head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly expressing his dissatisfaction.

Jaiswal dropped a total of four catches during the first Test, which proved costly for India as England capitalized on these reprieves to secure a five-wicket victory. Among the most significant let-offs, Jaiswal dropped Ben Duckett on 11 and then again on 97, with Duckett going on to score 62 and a match-winning 149 respectively. He also missed chances to dismiss Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, who also went on to score important runs.

In response to Jaiswal's fielding lapses, the team management is considering changes in the slip cordon. During a practice session ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston, Jaiswal was not seen in the slips, with Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy rotating in the gully and fourth slip positions. Karun Nair was spotted at first slip, while KL Rahul and Shubman Gill occupied the second and third slip positions, respectively.

Instead of slip fielding, Jaiswal was seen working with Gambhir and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate on close-catching drills. This suggests that the team is focusing on improving Jaiswal's reflexes and technique in other fielding positions, such as leg slip, forward short leg, or silly point. Gambhir was reportedly animated during the session, offering Jaiswal corrective measures and focusing on short catching technique and positioning.

Ten Doeschate addressed the speculation, stating that Jaiswal has been a good catcher for the team and that the move is aimed at managing his confidence and providing him with a break from the gully. He also mentioned that Jaiswal's hands might be sore, and the team wants to build versatility in the fielding group. "Maybe just give Yashasvi a break from catching in the gully for a little while. His hands are quite sore. We want to get his confidence back up," said Ten Doeschate.

Despite the fielding concerns, the team management has not hinted at dropping Jaiswal from the playing XI, indicating their faith in his batting abilities. Jaiswal scored a century in the first innings of the Leeds Test, becoming the first Indian to score a century on his debut Test innings on English soil. The team is likely to continue backing him as a key player in the top order.

Former players and coaches have also weighed in on Jaiswal's fielding performance. Former India fielding coach R Sridhar defended Jaiswal, highlighting the difficulty of adapting to English conditions and the challenges of fielding with the Dukes ball. R Ashwin also defended Jaiswal, noting that the Dukes ball feels bigger and harder. Mohammad Kaif suggested that the use of straps on fingers due to injuries could also affect catching. Brad Haddin, former Australia wicketkeeper-batter, suggested that the Indian team needs an "attitude adjustment" to improve their fielding.