Blog

Yashasvi Jaiswal is now clearly the best performer for the Indian cricket team in the Test series against England. After a double ton, Yashasvi Jaiswal has now scored a ton against England. The left-handed opener is proving time and again why India can rely on him in the long term. The century on Saturday was a dominating one. Jaiswal’s (104 retired hurt off 133 balls) second ton of the series was beautifully complemented by Shubman Gill (65 batting, 120 balls), who curbed his natural aggression as India ended the day at 196 for 2 in 51 available overs.

The left-handed opener, who will be the torch-bearer of Indian batting for the next decade, scored his third Test hundred in only the seventh Test appearance before the blazing blade was brought to a halt by back spasms that forced him to retire.

The Jaiswal-Gill pair added 155 runs in quick time with the former giving the English team a test of its own medicine with nine fours and five sixes, the best being the imperious pull off Jimmy Anderson.

The overall lead swelled to 322 by stumps, after Indian bowlers made a splendid comeback, getting last five England wickets for only 29 runs with visitors being bowled out for 319.

No wonder, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fan following has seen a massive rise. “who is Yashasvi Jaiswal? to the blind, Jaiswal is the light. to the hungry, Jaiswal is bread. to the sick, Jaiswal is the cure. to the lonely, Jaiswal is company. to the sad, Jaiswal is joy. to the prisoner, Jaiswal is freedom. for me, Jaiswal is everything.” a X user with the name @awkdipti posted.

Reposting that, Yashasvi Jaiswal IPL team wrote: “You’ve made it, Jaiswal”

You’ve made it, Jaiswal https://t.co/Z6U0jIO1Zc

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) February 17, 2024

Jaiswal’s onslaught continued despite England frenetically changing their bowling and fielding plans but none worked enough to stop the Indian opener.

Having spotted a vacant off-side field, Jaiswal brought out two reverse sweeps off Rehan Ahmed for fours.

However, his charge was halted only after England brought back Mark Wood for a short-ball ploy yet again in the game with a packed leg side field.

Unfazed with England’s deployments, Jaiswal dealt in singles once into his 90s and brought up his third century of fledgling career with a four off Wood.

However, the left-handed opener had to retired hurt close to the end of the play for being unable to deal with back spasms.

Jaiswal not only took the wind out of England’s aspirations but also consolidated India’s grip on the contest, having lost Rohit Sharma (19) cheaply in the second session.

With PTI inputs