Former Indian spinner Zaheer Khan praised Yashasvi Jaiswal for hitting the 700-run milestone in India’s upcoming Test series against England.
Yashasvi Jaiswal made 57 runs off 58 deliveries as India finished the first day (Thursday, March 7) of the fifth Test in Dharamsala with 135/1, responding to England’s first-innings total of 218. In his nine innings in the series, the left-handed starter has 712 runs and an average of 89.00.
During a Colors Cineplex discussion, Zaheer Khan mentioned that Jaiswal’s 700-run milestone is a significant achievement.
“You saw the hunger for runs in him, which is a very good thing. Even the greatest of batters have very few series like this and Yashasvi Jaiswal has achieved it so early in his career. So I feel it is a huge thing.”
Zaheer Khan
The cricketer-turned-commentator also stated that the youngster’s development into a capable opener will benefit India.
“The expectations from him will now be at this level only because he has shown an approach like that. We saw all the things that make a batter great. It is very good for Indian cricket as well if a top-order batter possesses abilities like this. So the future is looking very bright.”
Zaheer Khan
Jaiswal’s 712 run score ranks third among Indian Test series players. Sunil Gavaskar holds the top spots with 774 runs against West Indies in 1970-71 and 732 runs against them in 1978-79. His score is greater than Jaiswal’s in a Test series.
Zaheer Khan lauds Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma’s batting display in Dharamsala Test
Zaheer Khan commended Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma for getting India off to a strong start in the game on Thursday.
“We got to see excellent batting from both of them. Rohit was looking in a different rhythm and kept batting in that same flow. Yashasvi, at the other end, looked quiet at the start but as soon as spin came, you also got to see three sixes.”
Zaheer Khan
The former Indian bowler praised Jaiswal for being careful at the start of his innings.
“It was good to see that he started like this when he was in good form. It shows his mentality is not to keep playing shots because he is in good form. Instead, his mentality is that he is going through a good time, so he shouldn’t lose his wicket by being in a hurry.”
Zaheer Khan
Yashasvi Jaiswal managed only six runs from the first 27 deliveries he faced. He welcomed Shoaib Bashir into the attack by hitting three sixes off four balls in his first over, but was finally stumped by the off-spinner’s bowling when trying another big shot.