Jaiswal sets the tone with another ton

Leeds: Every time opener Yashasvi Jaiswal walks out to bat, there’s an excitement in the air, almost similar to when team-mate Rishabh Pant strides out. Just 23 years old, the opener is absolutely fearless but at the same time supremely confident. His technique appears a little casual to the naked eye, but the southpaw knows how to score big in any conditions.

The proof is in the pudding. His pulsating 101 on the opening day of the first Test against England in Headingley on Friday was his fifth century in his 21st Test. It also showed what a fantastic young opener the Mumbaikar is blossoming into with a third triple-digit score on his fourth trip on the road. 

Barring the series in South Africa in 2023, which was his sophomore international trip where he could muster only 50 runs in four innings, the dashing Jaiswal has stamped his class in West Indies, Australia, and is now ready to rock in England. 

Against the West Indies in July 2023, he tallied 266 runs in three innings, that included a brilliant 171 in his debut act. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy around the turn of last year, he started off with a career-defining 161 in the opening Test on a pacy Perth pitch before hitting two 80s in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and signing off with an aggregate of 391 runs in 10 innings.

Now in England, he has set the tempo with a century of high quality. England isn’t the easiest place to get going right away because of the swing and seam, and the battery of pacers who know how to exploit the conditions, especially with the Duke’s ball.

Things were a lot easier for Jaiswal on Friday with the inexperienced attack of Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse dishing out ordinary stuff on a placid pitch. But he still had to score them and not throw away his wicket like KL Rahul. There were moments of difficulty when Ben Stokes, England’s standout bowler, kept cramping him for room, cutting out his offside play — his strength. He was even hampered by a forearm issue towards the latter part of his innings, but the tenacious Jaiswal showed good maturity to fight through it and make a major statement.

Jaiswal, speaking to the media on Friday evening, said strong preparation before the series helped him make a blazing start. “We had a very good preparation (for the England series). We got very good inputs, (head coach) Gautam (Gambhir) sir was very supportive, and we practised very well there. So it was a lot of fun to prepare and come here to play, and it was such a good ground and such a good atmosphere, so it was a lot of fun to play in England as well.”

Jaiswal said there will always be challenges wherever he plays and his goal is to ace them all. “There will always be challenges in cricket. It will be different at every stage. I was trying to put my faith in myself, my process, my game, my mind.”