Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar has underlined the need for India to deploy a specialised fielder in the gully position, seeing it as a critical region where many catches are possible.

The remark came after India squandered several chances in the slip cordon in the series opener at Headingley, with Yashasvi Jaiswal receiving harsh criticism for the missing opportunity.

Bangar noted that few players have consistently excelled at the gully position over the years. He recalls Anil Kumble, who first played well, and Ajinkya Rahane, who eventually made the position his own with quick reactions, as the only two safe possibilities in his memory.

“It’s critical to not drop receptions. It makes the task of the bowling department that much more difficult. But I would argue that this is also a new stride forward for India. And wherever Yashasvi fields, gully is a very specialised position in cricket. And that’s where I believe India will need to invest in a certain player to learn the gully catching,” Bangar stated on the show ‘Follow the Blues’.

“Because I don’t recall many excellent players who were consistently found in the gully area. Anil Kumble, in my opinion, did an excellent job for India when playing. Ajinkya Rahane made that position his own. But after that, there must be a strong emphasis on becoming a solid gully fielder. Because that’s where a lot of catches go,” he explained.

The cricketer-turned-commentator further pointed out that the gully position should be held by the best fielder in the team. He stressed that the responsibility should ideally be taken up by a seasoned slip catcher, someone who has consistently held that position over a long period of time.

“And it’s a position that should actually go to your best fielder. As we say that the point fielder has to be your best fielder. But your best catcher actually has to be slightly wider in the slip cordon—maybe that four-slip area or even the gully region. And that’s where a lot of those catches go. And it’s high time that India thinks of putting a specialist there. And maybe that responsibility will have to be taken by somebody who’s done the role of slip catcher for a long, long period of time,” Bangar concluded.