Zaheer Khan, the former Indian fast bowler, praised both Yashasvi Jaiswal and the Indian team for their outstanding performance on the opening day of the first Test in Hyderabad. Following England’s dismissal for 246, India finished the day at 119/1, with Jaiswal remaining unbeaten at 76 off 70 balls.
The day saw India’s spinners claiming 8 wickets, establishing their dominance. Jaiswal’s remarkable batting played a crucial role in giving India the upper hand by the end of the day. Although the left-hander was dismissed early on the second day, his aggressive innings during the final session propelled India significantly ahead in the first Test.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden Test half-century at home became a pivotal factor in India’s lead over the visitors on Day 1 in Hyderabad. Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan applauded Jaiswal’s top-scoring performance at the conclusion of the day’s play.
Zaheer Khan emphasizes the importance of giving Yashasvi Jaiswal more recognition and praise
“That’s why he deserves more praise. He scored full marks in responding to every challenge thrown at him. When a batsman excels on the front foot, bowlers attempt to make him play more off the back foot. Conversely, if a player is hesitant with footwork, spinners might opt for slower deliveries to compel foot movement. Jaiswal showcased proficiency in both aspects, unleashing remarkable shots off both the front and back foot. His positive mindset was apparent right from the first delivery,” Zaheer shared with Colors Cineplex.
Jaiswal displayed an impressive strike rate of 108.57, concluding the day unbeaten with a score of 76 from 70 balls. Television commentators referred to his innings as a counter to England’s “Bazball,” dubbing it “Jazball.” Unfortunately, the young player struggled to maintain patience as he resumed his innings on day 2, managing to add only four runs to his overnight score before being dismissed by Joe Root in the initial over of India’s second day innings.
Jaiswal reached his fifty in a mere 47 balls, placing himself alongside the achievements of Gautam Gambhir and KL Rahul, who scored the most runs on the first day while batting second. Gambhir registered an unbeaten 85 against Zimbabwe in 2005, and Rahul scored an unbeaten 75 against the West Indies in 2016. Partnering with captain Rohit Sharma, Jaiswal contributed to an 80-run partnership, providing India with a strong start to their innings.
Despite England initially reaching 55 for no loss, they ended their innings at 246, losing crucial wickets. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja combined to take six wickets, while Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah claimed two each. Ashwin, with seven wickets away, is nearing the 500-wicket milestone. The Hyderabad pitch garnered attention before the Test match began, with former England cricketers labeling it a rank-turner upon their first glimpse. While there was noticeable turn on the pitch, it did not exhibit extraordinary spin.
“In the initial session, things were quite intriguing, possibly due to some moisture. The pitch had enough pace early on because of this moisture. However, as time progressed, it started to slow down. The balls that spun lacked the necessary speed to carry through to slip fielders. In such conditions, it’s crucial to vary your pace and maintain exceptional consistency to avoid conceding runs on this pitch,” commented Ashwin, providing his evaluation of the pitch and predicting its behavior over the next four days.
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