Indian cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal angers netizens for dancing despite dropping four catches

Dubai: India’s young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had a forgettable outing during the first Test against England, where his fielding lapses proved costly. The 23-year-old dropped four crucial catches across the match, which ultimately played a role in England clinching the win and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

What particularly frustrated fans was a viral video from the fifth day at Headingley, Leeds, showing Jaiswal dancing and smiling near the boundary line at long-on, seemingly engaging with the English crowd. The timing drew heavy criticism, as the footage surfaced just minutes after he dropped a key catch of Ben Duckett.

Jaiswal’s missed chance off Duckett, who was on 97 at the time, turned out to be the most damaging. The England opener went on to score a match-winning 149, helping his side successfully chase down 371 — one of the highest fourth-innings chases ever against India.

Earlier in the match, Jaiswal had already come under fire for dropping Ollie Pope on Day 2, who went on to score a century, and Harry Brook on Day 3, who narrowly missed his own with 99. Those lapses helped England stay competitive during the first innings.

Although Jaiswal has shown promise with the bat in recent months, his performance in the field drew strong backlash online. Many fans felt his demeanor lacked seriousness during a high-pressure moment, especially considering that his dropped catches played a direct role in India’s defeat.