After witnessing others excel last week, the young opener transformed his hunger into an impressive century in Delhi ©BCCI
It was a remarkable day for Indian batter, with Yashasvi Jaiswal delivering an outstanding unbeaten century characterized by class, courage, determination, and patience. This performance allowed him to redeem himself after being a mere observer during three centuries scored by his teammates in Ahmedabad. On Friday, it was his turn to impress as he notched up a composed, unconquered hundred.
“He will score the highest runs in this Test. Once he gains momentum, he is unstoppable. He didn’t score significantly in the first Test, so he’s eager to make up for it. Seeing everyone else score must have motivated him,” Abhishek Nayar remarked prior to the Delhi Test.
Jaiswal validated Nayar’s prediction, finishing the day unbeaten on 173 with a remarkable strike rate nearing 70. His contributions accounted for a substantial portion of India’s total runs, predominantly coming from his off-side plays, which he aptly dubbed the “Jaiswal Commercial District.”
After missing his chance in Ahmedabad due to cramped space that led to a dismissal, Jaiswal consulted his mentor Zubin Bharucha to strategize moving forward. Understanding that similar tactics might be employed against him, minor adjustments were made to his stance.
Jaiswal’s performance exemplified pacing and patience as he carefully assessed the pitch and conditions. His first fifty took 82 balls; the next came in 63, and the last in 79—a well-paced innings highlighting his keen discipline. Remarkably, five out of his seven Test centuries have exceeded 150 runs.
As India stood at 318 for two, with Jaiswal solid at 173, Anil Kumble believes he has the potential to aim for a triple century. “Jaiswal is continuously improving. His eagerness to build substantial innings has been apparent in his short career, and he takes full advantage of these opportunities,” Kumble said. A pivotal Day 2 lies ahead for both Jaiswal and the Indian team.
