India’s loss in the first Test against England at Headingley has not only hurt team morale but also sparked a wave of criticism directed at young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal. Despite scoring a century in the first innings, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s multiple dropped catches throughout the match—and his cheerful demeanour during the final day—have drawn ire from fans, especially after a viral video showed him dancing with the English crowd moments after dropping a crucial catch.
Fielding Woes Overshadow Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Batting Heroics
Yashasvi Jaiswal, known for his aggressive batting, had earlier impressed with a fine century in the first innings. But that highlight was soon eclipsed by a string of fielding blunders. The 22-year-old dropped as many as six catches across both innings, including three off Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling. His most notable lapse came on Day 5 when he dropped Ben Duckett just as the batter was nearing his century. Duckett went on to score 149, anchoring England’s record-breaking chase of 371.
India’s bowlers struggled to break the English top order. Bumrah, despite a five-wicket haul in the first innings, couldn’t replicate the same success on the final day. Duckett and Zak Crawley (65) laid a strong foundation with a 188-run stand. Prasidh Krishna’s late strikes and Shardul Thakur’s double blow did offer a brief glimmer of hope, but Joe Root (53*) and debutant Jamie Smith (44*) ensured a comfortable seven-wicket win for England.
Viral Video Sparks Outrage Among Fans
What truly turned the spotlight on Yashasvi Jaiswal was a video that emerged shortly after his fielding lapse. In the clip, he can be seen smiling, grinning, and dancing near the boundary ropes alongside the English crowd—just minutes after dropping Duckett. Fans found the timing and optics deeply frustrating, especially as emotions were still running high following India’s disappointing loss.
On social media, many questioned his focus and professionalism, with some even speculating how things might have played out differently if Rohit Sharma had still been captain. The clip triggered debates around discipline and accountability, especially for young players on the big stage.
India now trails 0-1 in the five-match series. With the second Test set to begin on July 2 at Edgbaston, all eyes will be on how the team—and Yashasvi Jaiswal in particular—responds to the criticism and pressure.
