Haddin Calls for Attitude Shift from Gill After India's Test Defeat: Former Aussie Wicketkeeper Warns of IPL's Impact on Fielding Standards Ahead of Edgbaston

Haddin Urges Shubman Gill to Rectify Attitude Ahead of Edgbaston Test

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin has issued a strong statement, calling on India's new Test captain, Shubman Gill, to make a crucial "attitude adjustment" following India's recent five-wicket defeat to England in the first Test match of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy 2025 at Headingley.

India captain Shubman Gill (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The loss, despite India boasting five centurions during the match, was largely attributed to a dismal fielding performance. The team uncharacteristically dropped eight catches across both innings, ultimately enabling England to successfully chase down a target of 371 runs.

India's fielding errors proved particularly detrimental in the case of England opener Ben Duckett, who benefited from being dropped in both innings. Duckett capitalized on these opportunities, scoring a remarkable 211 runs in the match, including a match-winning 149 in the fourth innings. Duckett's outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award and propelled England to a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

"Every great team, regardless of the era, shares one defining characteristic: exceptional fielding. I believe that is one legacy Gill has to start to leave now on this team. He needs an attitude adjustment," Haddin stated on the Willow Talk podcast.

The former Australian keeper also hinted at potential underlying issues stemming from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, suggesting a correlation between the tournament and the perceived decline in catching standards.

"If you want to field well and compete the whole time, it's only attitude. You can do all your technical work off the field and have as many coaches as anyone, but it won't matter. Even in the IPL this year, the catching was horrible. And that could be a byproduct," Haddin elaborated.

The Indian team's subpar fielding performance overshadowed their otherwise commendable batting display, where they managed to post competitive totals in both innings. The pace attack, led by spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, struggled to exert its usual dominance, further hampered by the costly dropped catches.

Team India is currently preparing for the crucial second Test match, scheduled to be held at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham from July 2-6, 2025. The team must urgently address their fielding concerns to have any chance of leveling the series.

England has already announced their squad for the second Test, with Ben Stokes continuing his role as captain. The squad features key players such as Jofra Archer, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes, all eager to capitalize on their early advantage in the series.