Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanath Jayasurya and Jasprit Bumrah. (Source – Twitter/X)
Few legends of the game in the realm of aggressive batting rival the prowess of former Sri Lankan stalwart, Sanath Jayasuriya. Indeed, there are few who could offer more insightful commentary on the ascendant Indian southpaw, Yashasvi Jaiswal, as he continues to rise through the ranks.
In a recent discourse, Jayasuriya was probed about his perspectives on Jaiswal, particularly concerning the latter’s burgeoning skill set and the advancements he has achieved in his nascent career thus far. He lavished praise on the 22-year-old, highlighting him as an exceptional talent to watch for in the future. Jayasuriya lauded his fervor and relentless pursuit of excellence amid an extremely punishing childhood, noting the significant effort he had invested.
“Jaiswal is another great talent from India. He has the passion and the want to do well, and to do that, he has been working very hard. He has made sacrifices and is a dedicated kid, that’s why he is performing. I have heard about his work ethic, and that’s quite impressive. Recently, we had a session with Zubin (Bharucha), the director of high performance at RR, and he told us how hard Jaiswal trains,” stated Jayasuriya, in an exclusive interview with The Times of India.
Bowlers like Bumrah are on top because of their clear thinking: Jayasuriya
When queried about how he would tackle a bowler as potent as India’s pace-bowling maestro, Jasprit Bumrah, the former cricketer delivered a response marked by remarkable balance and maturity. He noted that Bumrah’s exceptional consistency made him a unique and formidable opponent, deserving of respect on his prime days, which are frequent.
“He (Bumrah) is a unique bowler. We need to respect him and his skills. On his day, you’ll need to respect him, but then there are days when he is not up to the mark, it’s on those days you need to capitalise. Bowlers like him are on top because they’ve clear thinking in what they want to execute,” added Jayasuriya.
Jasprit Bumrah won’t be featuring in either legs of the Sri Lankan tour, as the selectors have decided to give the pacer some time off, citing workload management concerns. Jaiswal, on the other hand, is set to feature for the Men in Blue, and might be seen opening alongside vice-captain Shubman Gill.