Should India Consider Appointing a Specialist for the Gully and Slip Area?

New Delhi, July 2 (NationPress) As the second Test against England approaches in Birmingham this Wednesday, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar offered valuable insights on how Gill and his teammates can rebound by enhancing their close-in fielding. He emphasized the necessity for the visitors to focus on cultivating a top-notch catcher specifically in the gully and slips, areas notorious for missed chances.

Despite accumulating a remarkable total of 835 runs across their two innings, India's bowling unit, aside from Jasprit Bumrah, struggled to assert dominance over the English batsmen. India had the upper hand in most sessions during the first Test but faltered on the final day, allowing the hosts to clinch a five-wicket victory thanks to Ben Duckett's impressive 149.

"To secure victory in this Test match, it's crucial to evaluate the team's combination. Given the stellar performances from both the top and middle order in the first Test, I believe the management need not fret over who will contribute runs at number eight," Bangar stated.

He added, "Deploying a proper bowler at number eight could significantly boost India's chances of winning. Considering the 470 runs India scored in their first innings, the target they set in the fourth innings was indeed adequate for the team to dismiss England twice. The bowling department must take responsibility and strive to bowl out England on two occasions."

The Indian team's defeat was particularly disheartening due to a lackluster fielding performance, marked by eight dropped catches—the third-highest in their Test history. Yashasvi Jaiswal was central to this struggle, contributing to half of the missed opportunities with three drops in the slip cordon and one in the outfield.

Addressing the critical nature of catching, Bangar remarked, "Not dropping catches is vital as it increases the burden on the bowlers. However, this situation presents a chance for India to improve. The gully position is a highly specialized role in cricket. India needs to invest in a player who can excel in this catching area."

"In my recollection, few players have consistently excelled in the gully role. Anil Kumble did a commendable job during his tenure, and Ajinkya Rahane made that position his own. A concerted effort must focus on developing an effective gully fielder, as many catches are often taken in this area. This position should ideally be filled by the best fielder on the team.

"While we often say that the point fielder should be the best, the prime catcher should be stationed slightly wider in the slip cordon, perhaps in the four-slip area or the gully region, where many catches occur."

"It is imperative for India to consider appointing a specialist in this position. Perhaps this responsibility should be entrusted to someone with extensive experience as a slip catcher," he concluded.