Yashasvi Jaiswal displayed sheer class on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies in Delhi, remaining unbeaten on a remarkable 173. The young Indian opener faced 253 balls, anchoring India’s strong position of 318/2 at the close of play on Friday. His fluent innings was complemented by valuable contributions from Sai Sudharsan, who scored 87, and KL Rahul, adding 38. Captain Shubman Gill remained at the crease with 20 not out.
Jaiswal’s performance was a significant comeback after a modest 36 in the previous Test. He demonstrated enhanced patience and strategic shot-making throughout his stay. This exceptional display drew high praise from former India captain Anil Kumble, who boldly predicted that Jaiswal could be on his way to a triple century. “He’s certainly made up for that here,” Kumble commented, referring to Jaiswal’s earlier dismissal. “He has shown that he doesn’t waste opportunities like these. Once he’s in, he makes it count… Jaiswal now has a great opportunity, not just for a double hundred, but maybe even a triple hundred tomorrow.”
Jaiswal’s career statistics underscore his potential for generating huge scores in Test cricket. With over 2000 runs in 25 Tests, including seven centuries, he has established a pattern of converting starts into significant totals. Significantly, five of his seven Test centuries have been scores of 150 or more. This impressive record, including his first four hundreds all crossing 150 – a feat shared with only Graeme Smith – points to a batsman with an insatiable hunger for runs.