Young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal delivered a stunning performance on day one of the second Test against the West Indies, finishing the day unbeaten on 173. Batting with exceptional patience and skill at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Jaiswal’s undefeated knock came off 253 deliveries. He found solid support from KL Rahul, who contributed 38, and Sai Sudharsan, who crafted a fine 87. Captain Shubman Gill also remained not out with 20, helping India post a commanding 318/2 by stumps.
This impressive innings marked a significant redemption for Jaiswal, who had scored 36 in the first Test. His display showcased improved shot selection and the ability to build a substantial innings, a trait that legendary spinner Anil Kumble highlighted. Kumble, the former India coach, expressed his admiration for Jaiswal’s hunger for big scores and predicted he could reach a triple century. “Jaiswal is just getting better and better day by day,” Kumble stated. “We’ve spoken about his hunger and his attitude toward building big innings… Once he’s in, he makes it count. He’s still out there, and he can go on to score big runs tomorrow. He now has a great opportunity, not just for a double hundred, but maybe even a triple hundred tomorrow.”
Jaiswal’s Test career has already been marked by a remarkable appetite for massive scores. Across his 25 Test matches, he has accumulated over 2000 runs, including seven centuries. Notably, five of these centuries have surpassed the 150-run mark, with his first four hundreds all exceeding this milestone, a feat matched only by Graeme Smith. This consistent ability to convert starts into large scores solidifies his potential for even greater achievements.