Yashasvi Jaiswal's impressive innings of 87 runs has placed India in a strong position in the second Test against England at Edgbaston, despite him missing out on a century. The 23-year-old left-handed opener demonstrated maturity and skill, providing a solid foundation for the Indian batting lineup on the first day of the match.
Jaiswal's knock was not only significant for its contribution to the team's score but also for the records it broke. His 87 is now the highest score by an Indian opener in Test matches at Edgbaston, surpassing Sudhir Naik's 77 runs scored in July 1974. He achieved this milestone with a swift 87 off 107 balls, including 13 boundaries.
Having won the toss, England chose to field first. Jaiswal started cautiously, seeing off England's opening bowlers during the first hour. After getting settled, he began to accelerate, displaying a wide array of shots. He formed an 80-run partnership with Karun Nair, further solidifying India's position. After Nair's dismissal before lunch, Jaiswal continued his momentum, adding stability alongside Shubman Gill.
Jaiswal's innings came to an end when he attempted a cut off a delivery from Ben Stokes and edged the ball to keeper Jamie Smith. Despite the disappointment of missing out on a century, his performance was crucial in setting the stage for India's innings. At tea, India reached 182/3, with Shubman Gill (42) and Rishabh Pant (14) at the crease.
Before the second Test, Gautam Gambhir, the Indian head coach, spent considerable time with Jaiswal, particularly focusing on his catching technique, after Jaiswal dropped four catches in the first Test. Assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate indicated that Jaiswal might be relieved from his fielding duties in the gully to regain his confidence, as his hands were sore.
Jaiswal is also approaching another milestone in his Test career. He is just 10 runs away from reaching 2000 Test runs. If he achieves this in the next innings, he will equal the record for the fastest Indian to reach this milestone, currently held jointly by Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, who both achieved it in 40 innings.
In the first Test of the series, Jaiswal scored a century in the first innings but couldn't replicate his performance in the second innings. He will be aiming to convert his solid start into a century in the second innings of this Test match and help India level the series.
Overall, Yashasvi Jaiswal's aggressive approach has resulted in a healthy strike rate of 65.66, with 10 fifties and four centuries in his Test career. His performance in this Test match has once again highlighted his importance to the Indian team.