New Delhi, In a dazzling display of counterattacking cricket, Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young opener, showcased his prowess on the opening day of the 1st Test against England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, observing Jaiswal’s fearless innings, drew parallels with the explosive Rishabh Pant, emphasizing that the Rajasthan Royals’ talent has seamlessly adapted to Test cricket.
As Ben Stokes’ England struggled to defend their total of 246, the Indian batsmen, led by Rohit Sharma, took command with their bold and fearless approach. While Rohit contributed a crafty 24 off 27 balls, Jaiswal stole the limelight with a stellar performance, securing his first-ever half-century on home soil. The left-handed opener, remaining unbeaten alongside Shubman Gill, significantly reduced England’s lead to just 127 runs by the end of the day.
Reflecting on Jaiswal’s remarkable innings, Ashwin stated, “He (Jaiswal) had a great time in the IPL, had a wonderful start in first-class cricket. I am quite enjoying it. I am seeing Rishabh Pant there. His fearless cricket is serving him well. Yashaswi has not put a foot wrong, he has taken to Test cricket like a fish to water.”
Jaiswal’s onslaught included nine boundaries and three sixes, placing him in elite company as only the third Indian batter to cross the 70-run mark on Day 1 while batting second in a Test, joining the ranks of Gautam Gambhir and KL Rahul.
Ashwin, who bowled 21 overs and claimed three wickets earlier in the day, expressed optimism about India’s position in the match. He remarked, “It was pretty interesting in the first session, maybe there was a bit of moisture. Because of the early moisture, there was enough speed. Then it slowed down. Not enough speed to carry through to the slips. 240 was a very very good competitive total. Thought 30-40 runs more than what we would have liked. Someone making a hundred tomorrow will put us in the driver’s seat.”
As India looks ahead to Day 2, the focus remains on consolidating their dominance, with the possibility of a century putting them firmly in control of the match.
