How Yashasvi Jaiswal Vindicated Rahul Dravid's Belief In Him As All-Format Opener

26.01.2024 - 18:57 sports.ndtv.com

The rollicking 80 that Yashasvi Jaiswal made against England in the first Test in Hyderabad is a validation of the team management's belief that the left-hander is India's next all-format opener.

Jaiswal might have used a cliche - intent to play positive cricket - to describe his 74-ball blitz that gave India early momentum against the visitors, but the knock is certain to resonate more deeply within the walls of the dressing room. "I don't think it was any tactic (attacking England spinners early on Thursday evening), as I was just thinking to play well against certain balls, play some positive shots," Jaiswal humbly offered in his post-day press meet on Friday.

But the positive mien Jaiswal showed in snatching the initiative from England would have reminded many of a certain Virender Sehwag, as he made his runs at a strike-rate of 108.

Another school of thought will ascribe that innings to him being a child of the T20 era. Yes, the 22-year-old is a brilliant T20 player as well, but that is taking an easy and lazy route to label an innings that has a whole lot more significance.

cricket India Cricket Team England Cricket Team 2024 as Rahul Dravid Yashasvi Jaiswal India

Names as big as Sir Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar popped up amid Yashasvi Jaiswal's terrific run of form but Virender Sehwag feels it's too early to compare the young India opener with the icons of the game. The 22-year-old Jaiswal has been scoring heavily in recent times, including a magnificent double hundred against England, forcing few former players and fans to compare him with the legends, including Sehwag.

How To Dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal? Ex-England Coach's Interesting Advice To Ben Stokes And Co

Former England cricket team coach David Lloyd believes that Ben Stokes and Co show play on Yashasvi Jaiswal's ego in order to dismiss the in-form youngster in the third Test match against India in Rajkot starting Thursday. Jaiswal has looked in tremendous form in the first two Test matches with a historic double century in Visakhapatnam to guide his side to victory. Lloyd believes that although there is no obvious weakness when it comes to Jaiswal's batting, England should target the left-hander with an off-spinner and tempt him to go for a big shot that may end up going to the fielder for a catch.

'Rishabh Pant Due To Come...': Ex-India Star's Stern Warning To Rohit Sharma And Rahul Dravid Over KS Bharat

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat's role in the Test team. Since making his Test debut last year against Australia in Nagpur, Bharat has scored just 221 runs in seven matches, averaging a meagre 20.09. He is yet to score a half-century in the longest format of the game. Manjrekar feels since Bharat is not contributing much with the bat, the management should look at other alternatives. Manjrekar doesn't feel the management should invest more time in Bharat, especially with Rishabh Pant waiting in the wings.

Rahul Dravid Provides Update On Ravindra Jadeja's Injury Ahead Of 2nd Test vs England

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja remains a doubt for the second Test against England, starting Friday at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Vizag. Jadeja appeared to have pulled his hamstring during Day 4 of the first Test as England took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after beating India by 28 runs in Hyderabad. Chasing a target of 231, India were bowled out for 202. Jadeja was run out in the second innings courtesy of Ben Stokes' outrageous underarm flick at the non-striker's end.

"I Just Felt We Left...": Rahul Dravid's Honest Admission On India's Defeat In 1st Test

India head coach Rahul Dravid felt India's mistake during the 28-run defeat to England in the opening Test was leaving runs on the field in the first innings and not capitalising on good starts. After India's spinners forced England to succumb to 246, Yashasvi Jaiswal (80), KL Rahul (86) and Ravindra Jadeja (87) guided India to a gigantic total of 436.

"Like A Fish To Water": Ravichandran Ashwin Namedrops Rishabh Pant In Big Praise For Yashasvi Jaiswal

Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is in awe of Yashasvi Jaiswal's batting in only his fifth Test, saying the youngster has not put a foot wrong in his 76-run knock against England and has taken to the five-day format "like a fish to water". Jaiswal was unbeaten after playing 70 balls, hitting nine boundaries and three sixes on the opening day of the first Test. Along with skipper Rohit Sharma (24), he shared 80 runs for the opening stand to take India to 119 for one in their first innings in reply to England's 246.