NEW DELHI: Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar has commended the remarkable performance of Yashasvi Jaiswal following India's resounding victory over England in the second Test match in Visakhapatnam.
In a column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar lauded Jaiswal's adaptability and learning ability, particularly highlighting his significant improvement from the previous match.
Referring to Jaiswal's missed opportunity for a century in the first Test, Gavaskar stated, "Yashasvi Jaiswal showed he is a quick learner by making sure he didn’t miss out on a hundred as he did in the first Test match by scoring a magnificent double century in the second Test."
During the match, Jaiswal showcased his prowess with an impressive knock of 209 runs off 290 balls, which included 19 boundaries and 7 sixes. Gavaskar emphasized the importance of Jaiswal's innings in holding the Indian innings together, especially when other batsmen "gifted their wickets away."
"India certainly needed someone to hold the innings together with a big century as once again most of the other batters got going like they did in the first Test and then gifted their wickets away," Gavaskar added.
(Image Courtesy: AI)
Jaiswal's exceptional form throughout the series has been noteworthy, with the left-handed batsman emerging as the leading run-scorer. Accumulating a total of 321 runs from 2 matches at an impressive average of 80.25 and a remarkable strike-rate of 75.35, Jaiswal's aggressive approach has posed a significant challenge for the English bowlers.
Gavaskar also highlighted the importance of temperament in Test cricket, contrasting it with the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket.
1/10:2nd Test: India beat England to level series
Reuters
2/10:Jasprit Bumrah
<p>Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah took a match haul of nine wickets to lead India's 106-run win over England in the second Test on Monday and level the five-match series. </p>Reuters
3/10:Zak Crawley
<p>Chasing a record 399 for victory, England were bowled for 292 in the second session on day four in Visakhapatnam, despite an attacking start and Zak Crawley's 73. </p>Getty Images
4/10:3 wickets each
<p>Bumrah and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took three each in the final innings and the pace spearhead bowled Tom Hartley to complete the win. </p>IANS
5/10:Shubman Gill
<p>Shubman Gill set up the comeback victory for India with his 104 on day three to set England, who won the opener, a daunting target. </p>IANS
6/10:Bazball
<p>England came out swinging with their "Bazball" brand of cricket, Crawley and company hitting boundaries despite losing wickets. </p>AFP
7/10:Axar Patel
<p>Left-arm spinner Axar Patel broke through when he trapped Rehan Ahmed lbw for 23, after the nightwatchman hit five fours in his 31-ball knock. </p>ANI
8/10:Ravichandran Ashwin
<p>Ollie Pope hammered five boundaries in his brief stay at the wicket, before Ashwin had him caught at slip by captain Rohit Sharma on 23. </p>ANI
9/10:Joe Root
<p>Joe Root fell for 16 while attempting a slog off Ashwin, who remains one away from entering the 500-wicket club. </p>PTI
10/10:Kuldeep Yadav
<p>The chase soon lost steam with two wickets in five balls before lunch, including Crawley out lbw off left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. </p>PTI"With the advent of T20 cricket and the need there to play unexpected shots, the temperament of the batters can sometimes be badly affected," he noted.
Following their defeat in the first Test in Hyderabad, India bounced back strongly to secure a convincing 106-run victory over England in the second Test, thus leveling the series at 1-1.
With the series now evenly poised, India will be aiming to take a 2-1 lead as they face England in the third Test, scheduled to begin on February 15 at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot.
(With inputs from agencies)
