Sanjay Bangar Urges India to Prioritize Gully Fielding, Bowling Depth Ahead of Second Test
As India gears up for the second Test against England at Birmingham starting Wednesday, former batting coach Sanjay Bangar has called for sharper close-in fielding and a strategic focus on team composition to bounce back from the narrow defeat in the first Test.
Despite amassing 835 runs across two innings, India fell short as the bowling unit, barring Jasprit Bumrah, struggled to penetrate England’s batting lineup. The match, which saw India dominate large portions across the first four days, slipped away on the final day, with Ben Duckett’s blistering 149 guiding England to a five-wicket victory.
Bangar emphasized that India’s defeat wasn’t due to batting failures but rather lapses in bowling and fielding. “The best way to win this particular Test is to revisit the team combination. If the top and middle order are delivering, there’s no need to focus on batting depth at number eight,” he explained on-air.
“Instead, play a proper bowler at that position. India had more than enough runs on the board in the first innings, and the final total was sufficient to bowl England out twice. The focus now should be on strengthening the bowling unit.”
One of the most glaring setbacks was India’s poor fielding performance, particularly in the slip cordon. The team dropped eight catches — the third-most ever in a Test for India. Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was involved in four of those missed chances, including three in close-catching positions and one in the deep.
Bangar stressed the critical role of specialist fielders in high-stakes matches. “Fielding in the gully is a highly specialized skill. Not many Indian players have consistently mastered that position. In the past, Anil Kumble and Ajinkya Rahane excelled there. Since then, we’ve lacked a dependable gully fielder,” he noted.
He further added, “Your best catcher should ideally be placed in the wider slip cordon — between fourth slip and gully — because that’s where many crucial chances come. It’s high time India identifies and invests in a long-term specialist for that role.”
Looking ahead, Bangar believes improved fielding and a more balanced bowling lineup will be key if India wants to level the series in Birmingham.
