Aakash Chopra points out chink in Yashasvi Jaiswal’s armour (Source – Getty Images)
Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the most talented young cricketers going around in the international circuit. He slammed a belligerent century in the second innings of the first Test in Perth. However, he has registered scores of 0, 24, 4, and 4* since then. In two out of those innings, he was dismissed in the first over by Mitchell Starc.
The left-arm seamer has dismissed Jaiswal on three occasions so far in the first three Tests between India and Australia. Ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Aakash Chopra noted that Jaiswal has long-standing problems against left-arm pacers. The former India cricketer said that the chink in the southpaw’s armour isn’t format-specific as it was seen during the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year.
“The truth is that Yashasvi Jaiswal is having problems against left-arm pace, and this problem has not started now. It’s been happening regularly. This was happening in the IPL as well, which means it is not a format-specific problem. It is not a Mitchell Starc problem,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
The cricketer-turned-commentator feels that Starc’s return to form has only intensified the problems for India’s flamboyant opening batter.
“His numbers against left-arm pace are not that good and that is getting exploited because, for some strange reason, Mitchell Starc is back to his best. We felt there was a slight slide in his career but he has again started to bowl with the same rhythm,” he observed.
‘Looking good not good enough’ – Aakash Chopra on Shubman Gill’s woes
Another young batter who has struggled to live up to his potential on the tour is Shubman Gill. Chopra highlighted the Punjab batter’s dismal performances outside Asia. Chopra said that Gill has looked good during his brief stays at the crease. However, the former India opener stated that the team needs much more significant contributions from him, especially when the other batters have not been in great nick.
“Shubman Gill – it’s been 16 or 17 innings where he hasn’t scored more than 40 runs outside Asia in the last three years. The last time he did that was in Brisbane when India won the series. It’s been a while. The expectations are the same from you. He was looking good [while batting], but looking good is not good enough in this batting order at this point in time,” he said.
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“If Yashasvi is struggling against left-arm pace, you are struggling, (Virat) Kohli struggles if he comes early, runs haven’t come from Rohit Sharma’s bat, and (Rishabh) Pant hasn’t scored runs yet, then Shubman Gill – you will also have to give yourself a little time,” Chopra observed.