Although wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant achieved a special feat by completing 150 Test catches, the Indian fielders came up with a dismal show in the field, missing out on as many as six chances in England's first innings of the first Test in Leeds.
India managed to gain a slender six-run lead after bowling out England for 465, but had they held on to catches that came their way, the visitors could have secured a substantial lead in the first essay.
This was the first time in five years that India had put down so many chances in an innings.
'India drop their fifth chance of the game - it's been five years since they dropped more opportunities in a single Test innings,' said The CricViz Analyst on X.
Most of the catches that Indian fielders dropped came off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah, who despite the misses returned with excellent figures of 5/83.
The young Yashasvi Jaiswal had a terrible time in slips, spilling as many as three chances, all off Bumrah's bowling. Even the ever-reliable Ravindra Jadeja and Pant, who has been consistent behind the stumps, missed a chance at point as he put down Ben Duckett on 15, who then made most of the reprieve to stroke 62.
Jaiswal, who scored a brilliant century in the first innings, dropped England's No. 3 Ollie Pope when he was on 60. Pope went on to score 106 to lead England's charge on the second day.
The luckiest of them all was Harry Brook, who was dropped twice - when on 46 and 62. Making full use of those chances, he yet again showed his class with a clinical 112-ball 99 to take England closer to India's total.
On Day 2, Brook survived a scare when he was on zero, out caught by Mohammed Siraj off Bumrah's bowling, but TV replays showed the bowler had overstepped.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan commented that India could have secured a lead of at least 150 runs had they taken their chances.
Despite dropping a tough chance, Pant got his 150th victim in Tests when he pouched Pope off Prasidh Krishna's bowling.
Among Indian 'keepers only Syed Kirmani (160 catches) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (256) are ahead of the 27-year-old Pant.
Now, Pant has a total of 151 catches and 15 stumpings (166 dismissals), making him the third most successful keeper for India. Dhoni tops the list, with 256 catches and 38 stumpings, totalling 294 dismissals.
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