Gill Needs 'Attitude Adjustment' Warns Haddin After India's Test Defeat

Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has urged 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 of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy 2025.

India captain Shubman Gill under pressure.

The loss, despite India boasting five centurions throughout the match, has been largely attributed to a dismal fielding performance. The team's eight dropped catches across both innings proved costly, ultimately allowing England to successfully chase down a target of 371 runs.

India's fielding errors were particularly detrimental in the case of England opener Ben Duckett. Duckett, dropped in both innings, capitalized on these opportunities, scoring a remarkable 211 runs, including a match-winning 149 in the fourth innings. His 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, no matter what year you're playing, the one standout feature they've always had is that they've been a great fielding team. And I think that is one legacy Gill has start to leave now on this team. He needs an attitude adjustment," Haddin stated on the Willow Talk podcast.

The former Australian player also highlighted potential concerns arising from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, suggesting a possible link between the tournament and declining 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 added.

While the Indian team demonstrated strength in their batting, posting competitive totals in both innings, their efforts were overshadowed by the subpar fielding. The pace attack, despite the presence of spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, struggled to make a significant impact and was further hindered by the dropped catches.

Team India is now gearing up for the second Test match, scheduled to take place at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham from July 2-6, 2025. The team must urgently address their fielding deficiencies to have any chance of leveling the series.

England has already announced their squad for the second Test, with Ben Stokes continuing as captain. The squad features key players such as Jofra Archer, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes, as they aim to build on their series lead.