NEW DELHI: India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had a terrible day on the field on Sunday as he dropped three crucial catches of the Australian batters, prompting angered reactions from his skipper Rohit Sharma.
After having dropped Usman Khawaja on 2 at leg-gully in the morning session, Jaiswal dropped Marnus Labuschagn on 46 at third slip in the second session off Akash Deep.
At the stroke of Tea, the 21-year-old then dropped a catch of Pat Cummins off Ravindra Jadeja at silly-point.
Of all the three chances, the second dropped catch in particular, saw emotions getting better of Rohit with the skipper seen shouting and throwing his arms around angrily.
The animated Rohit reactions to the dropped chances didn’t go down well with the commentators with the likes of Mike Hussey suggesting that such things aren’t expected from skipper.
“I’ve got to be honest, I don’t like that reaction from the Indian skipper. I appreciate he’s emotional, and he desperately wants wickets, but you’re the one who has to send the message of calm and support. No one means to drop a catch.
“He’s gonna feel bad enough as it is for putting a catch down, especially someone like Marnus Labuschagne; it happens quickly, it’s in, it’s out. You don’t need to see that as a young player,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket.
Australia’s women’s skipper Alyssa Healy also said that the team needs to be gentle with Jaiswal as he will be key in India’s fourth innings chase.
“Particularly when you need him to walk out and open the batting alongside you, to make some runs and try and win a Test match for your country,” she said.
Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann also wasn’t impressed with Rohit and Virat Kohli’s reaction to dropped catches. He however liked Rishabh Pant’s gesture which saw him putting arm around Jaiswal, lifting his spirits.
“Rishabh Pant did well. He actually gave him a pat on the back and said ‘just hang in there, we all drop them’. What he doesn’t need is the captain Rohit Sharma and (Virat) Kohli throwing their arms about. The poor kid,” Lehmann said on ABC Radio.
Former Victoria wicketkeeper Darren Berry also called out for support to Jaiswal from senior after the dropped catches.