The Indian cricket team, on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test against England, once against showed their vulnerability in fielding as they dropped several catches during the day at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.
Captain Joe Root and all-rounder Ben Stokes started the day for England at 263 for 3, and the duo took the side right up to 387, stitching a 124-run stand. Stokes, in particular, was the aggregator as he piled misery on India's fate by scoring 82 off just 118 balls. The story, however, could have been different if India had taken their chances. The England all-rounder was dropped twice in two overs; first by Ravichandran Ashwin, and second by Cheteshwar Pujara.
Even Dom Bess was given a lifeline by Rohit Sharma. The Indian opener, in fact, dropped the easiest of catches and looked amused himself.
Welcome to my fielding academy @ImRo45 !! #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 6, 2021
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was left livid with the way India were fielding.
"Just like they practice the pull shot, the cut shot in the nets, I think the fielding coach must also try and give them these caught and bowled situations as if the bowler has bowled and then he looks up and the catch comes,"Gavaskar said on the post-lunch show on Star Sports.
"It is an important aspect. India have been missing a fair few caught and bowled opportunities. I don’t know how they will be able to practice that but they need to do that.”
Cricket fans also reacted to Team India's poor fielding effort during the second day's play on Twitter:
I'm still lost for words on how Rohit Sharma dropped that catch!
— Wardy1a79 (@wardy1a79) February 6, 2021
@ImRo45 Laughing at his dropped catch in amusement summed up Indian team’s lackluster show of intent on day 2. They have clearly living on past laurels from the Aussie tour which can spell doom!
— Akshay Nijagal (@akshaynijagal) February 6, 2021
Dropping dollies regularly. Either fielding coach is busy giving interviews or Indian players are too confident they don't need any improvement. #IndvEng #INDvsENG
— Wanderer (@DisDatNothin) February 6, 2021
Lack of discipline (no balls, dropped catches, poor fielding, poor deliveries) and class from Root again. But 550 in India is probably around par so we did okay to pull it back later on. Need to get them out early and just bat
— Kushal Malde (@kushm94) February 6, 2021
Has team India stopped practicing fielding? #INDvsENG
— Ameya Gamre (@asgamre) February 6, 2021
This has to be one of the worst fielding performances I’ve seen from a test team in a long time. India have been very slow in the outfield and sloppy around the bat.
— Paul (@GforGinner) February 6, 2021
Incredible knock from Joe Root this morning! It has been test match batting perfection in adverse conditions (Chennai is HOT).
But India's fielding has been dire, the England score should really be much lower.... #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/CDM25cGDv9
— Reema Patel (@Reema__Patel) February 6, 2021
It's getting embarassing and humiliating now for team India @BCCI #INDvsENG Below par captaincy, fielding n bowling. Extra pressure on batsmen now to bat for atleast 2 days to level the first innings score n that too after all d tiredness of being on the pitch for ~160-170 overs
— GUJJU (@pankil18sbm) February 6, 2021
Very disappointed with india energy on the field .On this type of wicket one should be ready to capitalise any type of chances.Well this kind of fielding we are seeing from 3-4 moths but what R sreedhar is doing is a very serious question mark.#INDvsENG
— Naveen tripathi (@tripathi18nave4) February 6, 2021
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @BCCI
