Team India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has shared insights into his learnings from batting alongside skipper Rohit Sharma. The 22-year-old, who debuted for India in July last year, has already formed a strong partnership with Sharma in the Test format. With over 1000 Test runs in just nine matches, Jaiswal attributes a large part of his development to his captain’s influence.
In a pre-match press conference before Team B’s Duleep Trophy clash against Team A, Jaiswal spoke highly of Sharma’s ability to read the game and adapt to different pitch conditions. He noted how Sharma’s expertise in adjusting his batting approach, whether on seaming or turning tracks, has been an invaluable lesson. Jaiswal, who has been a quick learner on the international stage, highlighted the importance of being able to shift his game according to the situation.
“It’s an incredible experience whenever I go out and bat with him. The way he controls the game and understands the wicket is spot on. There are many things to learn from him, like adjusting your batting when a wicket or two falls or playing on different kinds of tracks,” said Jaiswal. He added that his exposure to international cricket has vastly improved his ability to communicate and read the game compared to his domestic cricket days.
Jaiswal’s rapid rise in international cricket is evident from his Test average of 68.53, with three centuries under his belt. In T20Is, he has played 23 matches for India, maintaining an impressive average of 36.15 with a strike rate of 164.31. He was also part of the Indian squad that clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup title.
Jaiswal also spoke about the positive influence of Team India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, whose tenure began with the recent white-ball tour to Sri Lanka. “Gambhir really backed us, saying just go out and play freely and enjoy the game. That gave us a lot of confidence to play fearlessly,” Jaiswal said, reflecting on the team’s T20I series victory against Sri Lanka.
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While the T20I series went in India’s favor with a 3-0 win, the ODI series proved challenging, with Sri Lanka securing a 2-0 victory, marking a mixed start to Gambhir’s coaching journey.
As Jaiswal continues to impress on the international stage, his focus remains on learning and growing under the mentorship of experienced players like Rohit Sharma. All eyes will now be on his performance in the Duleep Trophy 2024, where his team, India B, is set to face India A in the tournament opener.
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