‘Has the cricketing world at his feet’ – Sunil Gavaskar on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s knock on Day 2 of Perth Test

Yashasvi Jaiswal. (Source – Getty Images)

India’s batting display was at its fullest on Day 2 of the first Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium against the Australian bowlers. Young Yashasvi Jaiswal showed why he’s being called as one of India’s emerging talents. The left-handed opener’s unbeaten 90 not only silenced critics but also earned huge praise from cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar.

Following a disappointing duck in the first innings, Jaiswal’s partnering with KL Rahul has put the visitors in a comfortable position. Their unbroken 172-run opening stand, India’s highest in Australia since 2004, has earned huge praise from different quarters.

“This boy’s is special, He really is special. Looking at where he’s come from and the way he’s been batting, the way he’s been handling fame, it’s not easy sometimes to handle fame. Against England, he scored more than 700 runs in five Test matches, two double-hundreds earlier in the year. And he looks so hungry for runs, which is what you want as a batter,” Gavaskar said exclusively on Star Sports.

What sets Jaiswal apart is his left-handed technique at the top of the order, bringing a brilliant weapon to India’s batting lineup. Gavaskar mentioned that he is hungry to make runs and wants to perform for the country at the highest level.

“A lot of us were told, get a hundred. I think he says, I want to get a 150 or 200. He’s hungry for runs, and that’s exactly what Indian cricket needs. A left-hander who at the top of the order can create problems for the bowlers, whether they’re Australian, English, whatever, because he brings a completely different perspective. He likes to play his shots. He’s not one of those really ultra-watchful batters. He’ll play his shots. Some of the shots that he played off Mitchell Starc tell you the confidence that he has. So clearly, I think, Yashasvi Jaiswal, he has the cricketing world at his feet,” he added.

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Rahul hasn’t missed out on his scoring opportunities: Sunil Gavaskar

The partnership’s success was equally credited to KL Rahul’s presence at the other end who remained unbeaten on 62 after the second day. Gavaskar praised Rahul’s role in taking pressure off young Jaiswal. 

“I think what he’s done is he’s eased up the pressure on Yashasvi Jaiswal. When you have a partner at the other end who’s looking so secure, like Rahul is doing, then the other partner who’s got more strokes, who’s a little more adventurous in playing shots, and that’s what happened. So Yashasvi Jaiswal has actually flowered in his company. You can say that because he’s seen the solidity of Rahul,” Gavaskar further added.

The former cricketer mentioned that the right-hander hasn’t missed out on scoring opportunities. He complimented Rahul on his eye-catching straight drive against Australian skipper Pat Cummins. He also mentioned the knock is looking exactly like a Test match innings.

“Rahul hasn’t missed out on his scoring opportunities. When the ball’s been pitched up, he’s driven it gloriously through the covers. There is this straight drive that he played off Pat Cummins as well. Brilliant. It’s been a very, very good inning. It’s been what you would call a proper five-day Test match innings,” Gavaskar concluded.