Boria Majumdar in Leeds
Test cricket is all about playing to the conditions. You need to be ugly on occasion, but do not give up. And that’s exactly what Yashaswi Jaiswal did today at Headingley. For a period, Sunil Gavaskar was sitting with us at the press box and watching the young man bat. And just when he flashed at a ball, you could see the great man’s face contort. “Don’t play too many shots too soon,” he said. “You have loads of talent to do well on this wicket.”
Just then, Jaiswal played one of his signature straight drives and Sunny bhai was ecstatic. “Play as many of these shots as you can,” he said. “There is just no risk. You can go big here.” The young man did just that. He did play and miss on occasions, but then he focused back for the very next ball. The hunger was there. So was the determination. Once he got a start, it was key for India that he make it count. If an opener gets a big one in the first innings of an overseas Test, it helps set up the series and makes the change room feel that bit more confident.
There was a phase of play post-lunch when Jaiswal just took over. By then, he had played himself in, sussed out the conditions and was ready to get on top of England. Chris Woakes, who was getting a little bit of movement, was taken for three boundaries and, all of a sudden, the momentum shifted. He followed it up with another couple of boundaries and the pressure that England had exerted just before lunch had been released.
We all know about his hunger for runs. We know he can go big. What was key was how patient he was at the start of his innings. On a wicket where there was assistance, he was prepared to wait it out and buy time. The 50 off 96 balls attested that. It is all about respect. Giving it back to the sport that has given you a lot and still does. Jaiswal showed it and was rewarded.
In his nineties, he suffered cramps. But the southpaw gritted his teeth, took consecutive fours and a single off Brydon Carse to reach his fifth Test hundred. Elation oozed. It was a brilliant effort. He went to tea on 100 not out off 155 balls, with India in the driver’s seat on 215/2.
Is Jaiswal ready to be the next big batting great from India? Is this innings a good marker? Remember he got a match-winning hundred at Perth not too long ago.
While some of these questions don’t have clear answers just yet, the fact is that Jaiswal has pushed the bar here in Leeds. He has been fearless and consistent. He showed intent from ball one and, meshed with talent, he was clearly the batting star for India on Day 1.
Whether or not he carries this forward in this series, Jaiswal, in this innings at least, has already done his job. He has given India the start they needed and has indeed set the tone. And on a wicket where there was movement, this has been an innings of real class.
With no Rohit Sharma and no Virat Kohli, India needed Jaiswal and Shubman Gill to step up. Both did.
Pictures, it is said, speak a thousand words. I leave you all with some from Headingley. See them, and celebrate Jaiswal for what has been a truly outstanding effort.
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