Yashasvi Jaiswal Stands Out as Rest of Indian Batting Falters Against Inexperienced England Spinners in Vizag Test.
The conditions at the beginning of the second Test in Vizag seemed ideal for batting, with clear skies, bright sunshine, and a flat pitch. Indian captain Rohit Sharma, after winning the toss, chose to bat first, given the apparent advantages. The opposition’s bowling attack featured three inexperienced spinners with limited Test experience and an aging fast bowler. India managed to score 336 runs by the end of the day, showcasing a commendable effort.
However, losing six wickets raised concerns for the home team, prompting thoughts of a potential repeat of the outcome from the first Test in Hyderabad, where India suffered a 28-run defeat.
The pitch in Vizag for the second Test harked back to a bygone era, offering favorable conditions for batsmen. Despite the relatively inexperienced Indian batting lineup featuring players like Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and even Rohit Sharma, who haven’t had ample experience playing on high-scoring home surfaces, the opportunity to capitalize on such conditions was evident. Given the scarcity of such batting-friendly pitches in the World Test Championship cycle, the batsmen were expected to make the most of this rare opportunity.
Despite James Anderson securing only one wicket, the England team would be content with their performance. The inexperienced spinners from England collectively claimed five wickets, and notably, the pitch did not play a significant role in any of those dismissals. This performance positions England well in the second Test against India.
In the midst of the batting collapse and the sight of disappointed batsmen, Yashasvi Jaiswal emerged as a standout performer, standing tall with an unbeaten score of 179 runs off 257 deliveries. His innings served as a demonstration to the rest of his teammates, highlighting what could have been achieved on this batting-friendly surface with a bit of patience.
On a traditional pitch, Yashasvi Jaiswal, a modern-day opener, showcased the correct intent and courage by playing aggressive shots. India has witnessed more elegant left-handed batsmen, but none with the explosive power of Jaiswal. He even dispatched the off-spin of Joe Root over the extra-cover fence for a six, a shot that seemed to come out of nowhere. This shot epitomized the qualities that an all-format opener brings to Test cricket, especially evident in the second session of Day 1.
While Yashasvi Jaiswal’s innings was characterized by application and the art of constructing an innings, the same cannot be said for the rest of the Indian batting lineup. Captain Rohit Sharma, who initiated a new chapter in his Test career as an opener at the same venue in 2019 with a century, faced dismissal in a casual manner. He flicked a delivery from Shoaib Bashir that turned, resulting in his first Test wicket. Although Rohit displayed patience for 40 deliveries without attempting a boundary, his first mistake was not attacking the debutant bowler immediately.
Shubman Gill, following Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, played like a batsman feeling the pressure on his spot in the lineup. Despite starting confidently against the spinners and hitting some crucial boundaries, he faced a challenge when James Anderson returned to bowl. Rather than patiently enduring the spell, as Jaiswal did throughout the day, Gill carelessly extended his bat forward, resulting in Anderson claiming his wicket for the fifth time in Tests by inducing a nick behind the stumps.
Following Shubman Gill’s dismissal, Shreyas Iyer entered the fray, another batsman in need of runs. Known for his natural flair and attacking gameplay against spinners, Shreyas spent 59 deliveries at the crease. While he displayed moments of conviction, he appeared unconvincing for a considerable period, especially when England tested him with short deliveries, including one bowled by Joe Root. Shreyas was a bit unlucky when Tom Hartley bowled a short delivery with width, and although Shreyas attempted to cut, he only managed to feather it to the wicketkeeper, resulting in his dismissal.
Debutant Rajat Patidar displayed the most promising performance among the Indian batsmen. With the experience of playing 55 first-class matches evident, he exhibited composure in the middle, never rushing into shots. While he faced challenges against James Anderson, he showcased minimal foot movement but rarely played away from the body. Even on the ball that led to his dismissal, he defended well, only to be undone by the top-spin that rolled onto the stumps.
Axar Patel and KS Bharat joined the list of dismissals with tame cut shots that landed straight in the hands of the backward point fielder. Despite the favorable conditions, India struggled to establish substantial partnerships, failing to even achieve a 100-run partnership on a better track. Opting for a flat surface with slow turn, India’s approach was safety-first, aiming to bat once and big. However, with just four wickets remaining, the team faces a challenging task on Day 2 as the pitch undergoes wear and tear, with Bazball likely to come to the forefront unless they improve their performance.
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