India's struggle in the field during the first Test against England at Headingley was as costly as it was shocking. With six dropped catches and a no-ball that denied a wicket, the Shubman Gill-led side gave England’s batters extra lives—and they made the most of them. While Jasprit Bumrah ran riot with the ball and ended with a five-wicket haul, his teammates repeatedly let him down in the slips, at short leg, and behind the stumps.
From star players like Ravindra Jadeja to Yashasvi Jaiswal, the collective lapse in catching proved costly. It was a record of unwanted infamy — the most dropped catches by India in a single Test match in the last five years
The saying "catches win matches" was ignored, and England marched on to 465 in their first innings. Here's a breakdown of each missed opportunity that let the hosts off the hook.
Bumrah finished with figures of 5/83, but his performance deserved even more. Had the Indian fielders held their nerve, England might have folded well short of 400, giving India a sizeable advantage in the match.
Drop 1: Duckett’s Lucky Escape – Jaiswal’s Miss At Gully
In just the fifth over of England’s innings, Ben Duckett was the first to get a reprieve. Jasprit Bumrah got a thick edge off a full delivery, and Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully flung himself to his left. It was a tough chance, but a sharp one that could’ve set the tone. Instead, it ran away for four, and Duckett’s innings had begun on borrowed time.
Drop 2: Jadeja’s Rare Miss At Point
Two overs later came the most straightforward chance of the lot. Duckett slashed hard at a wide delivery and sent it straight to Ravindra Jadeja at backward point. Known for his safe hands and cat-like reflexes, Jadeja dropped a sitter. Bumrah was visibly distraught, and Duckett went on to score 62 before the bowler eventually cleaned him up in his second spell.
Drop 3: Jaiswal Again – Pope Let Off
As soon as Duckett departed, Ollie Pope edged a probing Bumrah delivery to third slip in the 31st over. Jaiswal, stationed in the cordon, shelled it again—his second miss in the match. Pope capitalized in style, going on to notch up his ninth Test century. For India, it was yet another opportunity lost.
Drop 4: Brook’s First Life – Siraj’s Catch Cancelled by No-Ball
Harry Brook arrived at the crease and immediately offered a chance. He edged one off Bumrah to fine leg, where Siraj completed the catch. But the joy was short-lived. The umpire called a no-ball, denying Bumrah what could have been a wicket for a duck. It was the fourth time in the innings that Bumrah had been robbed of a wicket.
Drop 5: Pant Misses Behind the Stumps
Later, Jadeja created a moment of hope. Brook edged one again—this time to Rishabh Pant, who failed to collect it cleanly as the ball thudded into his gloves and bounced out. A straightforward chance lost. Brook soon crossed fifty and began to anchor England’s recovery.
Drop 6: Smith’s Survival – Sudharsan’s Late Reaction
Jamie Smith danced down the track and mistimed a flick off Jadeja. The ball looped towards Sai Sudharsan at short leg, but the fielder was too slow to react. The ball brushed his fingertips and dropped to the ground. Smith went on to score a crucial 40, compounding India’s misery.
Drop 7: Brook’s Final Reprieve – Jaiswal Again
If three strikes meant you’re out, Brook would’ve been long gone. But Jaiswal gave him one final gift on Day 4 after lunch, dropping yet another edge at third slip. It was Bumrah again, steaming in, creating yet another opportunity, only to watch Jaiswal fluff his lines for the third time in the match. Brook, riding an entire innings of luck, eventually fell for 99.
