IND vs SL 2017, 3rd Test: I Don’t Know Technically What is Going Wrong, Says Cheteshwar Pujara on India’s Slip-Fielding Woes: Such has been India’s plight in the slip cordon that Cheteshwar Pujara could not zero in the reason when he got bombarded with questions related to it after the end of the third Test in Delhi.
In an otherwise clinical last couple of home seasons with the bat, ball as well as general fielding in Tests, team India’s never-ending problem in the slip cordon has given the team management a lot to worry about. The issue was on full display in the just-concluded Test, and it will be safe to say it played a big role in Sri Lanka managing to draw the game after having their back against the wall.
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In the first innings, Shikhar Dhawan had dropped makeshift opener, Dilruwan Perera, when he was batting on 16 and went on to score 42, helping Sri Lanka to recover from an early collapse. The hosts paid even a bigger price when skipper Virat Kohli stationed himself at the second slip in place of Dhawan and dropped Angelo Mathews when he was batting on just six.
The former Sri Lanka skipper got another reprieve when he was just two short of completing a century after Rohit Sharma spilled a regulation catch. Mathews went on to score 111 off 268, paving the way for Sri Lanka to avoid the follow-on.
For a team that has made a name for itself with its exceptional fielding, the struggle in slip cordon has left everyone surprised and clueless, and Pujara is also one of them, unsure of the reason behind the struggle.
“[It is a] difficult question to answer as I don’t know technically what is going wrong,” said Pujara after the game on Wednesday. “I do agree that we haven’t taken enough catches, we are working hard. To be honest, we put in a lot of hardwork in our fielding; especially we know catching is very important. All players standing in the slips are taking 50 to 100 catches. So we are trying to improve ourselves, and eventually, results will come.”
“To be honest, we haven’t fielded well [in the slips], and I would accept that. At the same time, there have been injuries where openers have missed out. Someone like Murali Vijay, who used to be at first slip didn’t play due to injury; he didn’t play cricket for six months. So we had to replace Vijay with someone. So there have been occasions, where batsmen have got injured, and we had to replace [the slip fielder] with some other player. We haven’t taken many catches, but we will definitely get better at it. Overall, Indian team has improved as a fielding unit but slip fielding is something we are still looking to improve,” he added.
Rahane has been an ever-present figure in the slip cordon when a spinner operates and has done well. However, the Mumbai star fields at gully when the pacers bowl.
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When asked about that, Pujara said:
“When we’re talking about defining a fielding position, Ajinkya [Rahane] has been fielding at gully for quite a long time. We don’t want to disturb him from there. And the way he’s fielding when the spinners are bowling, he is any way at slips. He is set, we can’t keep on changing fielders. When he’s at gully, he knows the angles; he has the idea of where to stay when he starts fielding at gully.”
“We are having a chat about it [slip fielding woes], and we will assign a few players, throughout the away series. We will prepare a few players who will be standing at the slips. We will discuss when we reach SA, but we are already talking about that,” he added.
With the tour of South Africa less than a month away, the road is only going to get tougher for Virat Kohli & Co. The pitches in South Africa will assist the pacers more which will keep the slip fielders on their toes throughout the game, and the team management will be desperate to sort out the issue.
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