Yashasvi Jaiswal has continually emerged as one of the most exciting youngsters in India in a time when Test cricket requires both grit and flair. On Day 1 of the 2nd Test between India and England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, Jaiswal was the star of the day with a dazzling 87, which gave India good momentum and allowed them to close Day 1 at 310 for 5.
Although he narrowly missed out on a hundred, the left-handed opener again showed why he is becoming the base for India’s top order – particularly overseas.
Taking on the Pressure after an Early Obstacle
India ended up batting first after losing the toss and had a horror start. KL Rahul, who has been struggling, was dismissed for just two runs after a well-pitched ball from hometown hero Chris Woakes clipped the top of off.
Under pressure early on, Jaiswal walked out with calm authority, not just to survive but to score. The next couple of hours saw him dominate the English bowlers, with some great timing, placement, and fearlessness against errors.
Partnership with Karun Nair: The Anchor
Jaiswal had a solid partner in Karun Nair, who had been moved up to No. 3 in place of Sai Sudharsan. Together, they formed a very important 80-run partnership and steadied India’s innings after the early loss of Rahul.
While Karun was happy to rotate the strike and do the second-hand work, Jaiswal took control. He punished anything overpitched, was sensible and played late to anything on a good length and was even happy to drive on the up through either cover or square leg.
A Stylish Fifty: Jaiswal’s Dominance Over Tongue
Jaiswal’s fifty was almost in explosive style. In a single over from Josh Tongue, he flayed three successive boundaries, all taken from a different stroke – a punch through covers, a pull, and a late cut behind point.
This flurry of boundaries not only brought him to his fifty but also kept India’s run rate beyond being 4 an over for the first time in the match, putting pressure on a previously warm English bowling unit. His batting confidence appeared a continuation of his first Test form, where he scored an impressive hundred.
Seventh Consecutive 50+ Score Against England
With this 87, Jaiswal’s entered his seventh consecutive 50+ score against England in Test matches – a rare maiden and elite milestone. It is not only showing his technique but his awareness of England’s bowlers, conditions, and tactics.
Very few recent players have been able to dominate England’s bowling unit consistently, especially in away conditions, and Jaiswal has now reached the status of India’s most reliable Test openers with the likes of Sehwag, Gambhir, and Murali Vijay.
A Mixture of Struggle and Brilliance
The beauty of Jaiswal’s innings was in the ability to find that happy medium between caution and aggression. He respected Woakes and Carse when they were able to find a rhythm but launched his counterattack when they started to lose it. He played all types of shots; pulling and flicking, back-foot punching and gloriously driving through covers.
His 87 came off 106 balls and included 13 boundaries. The tempo for his innings was almost perfect for the format: aggressively when he had to; calm when the ball was talking to him; and always looking in control.
Out: a slight blemish to an almost perfect innings
Jaiswal looked set for a second consecutive hundred but fell, not to a classic dismissal, but because Ben Stokes found a hint of movement to get Jaiswal at the edge of it behind trying to guide it behind him. He was caught behind for 87; disappointment was visible but the standing ovation from India and the fans said it all, that was an innings of substance.
Though he might have fallen short of a hundred, the knock was significant to India finishing Day 1 with an advantage.
What Does the Innings Mean to India
Momentum and Confidence: Jaiswal provided the template for the rest of the Indian batting. His positivity flowed off onto his partners, especially Gill and Pant.
Top-order Stability: With Rahul’s continuing struggle, Jaiswal is putting his hand up to be a solid fixture in the top-order.
Future Leadership Material: Jaiswal is only 22 and already showing the level of application and maturity that is rare, especially as an opener in overseas conditions.
Praise From The Cricketing World
Cricket analysts and former players were quick to applaud Jaiswal on social media and during the commentary. Some referred to him as “the future of Indian Test batting” whilst others heralded his pure “clean technique and sharp cricketing brain”.
What Next – A Big Series is Coming
With two more Tests to play in the series, Jaiswal is now potentially the biggest problem for England. He has shown he is a threat to both pace and spin, meaning opposition teams will find it difficult to work out plans against him. If he can continue to convert good starts into big hundreds, India will not only be in a great position in this series, but have also put themselves in a great position in the World Test Championship.
In summary,
Yashasvi Jaiswal might not have scored a century at Edgbaston, but the 87 runs were worth their weight in gold. It was an innings that showed flamboyance but was anchored with maturity, aggression but tempered with some restraint. After a little wobble when India needed someone to stand tall, Jaiswal rose to the occasion with ease and flare.
The stats don’t lie, but more than the stats, above the stats, the impact of his innings stood above, energising his team, tiring the opposition and keepings India very much in control.
