Yashasvi Jaiswal decimated a hapless West Indies attack with another hundred that took India to a commanding 318 for 2 on the opening day of the second Test on Friday. He displayed all facets of his extraordinary talent en route an unbeaten 173 off 253 balls. Skipper Shubman Gill was batting at 20 when stumps were drawn for the day.
Jaiswal's knock was laced with 22 hits to the fence. The control with which he dictated the proceedings also gave enough confidence to another young batter Sai Sudharsan (87), who looked good for his maiden Test hundred but fell 13 short. In a stand of 193 for the second wicket between the two 23-year-olds, Sudharsan was able to show his true potential and also justify the Indian team management's decision to persist with him as the long-term number 3 in the Test line-up.
Sudharsan managed to send the ball to the boundary without using any brute force. By the time he got one from left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican that turned and came back into him thudding onto his pads, he had done enough to silence his critics. Gill also looked assured and would be hoping to make up for the disappointment of missing a hundred in Ahmedabad.
The West Indies bowling was disciplined during the first hour and pedestrian in the next five as they bowled many loose deliveries which resulted in 43 boundaries and a six on Day 1.
For Jaiswal, it was his control that was laudable, but he was equally harsh on pacers and spinners. Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillips fed him with a lot of half-volleys and over-pitched deliveries which got the treatment they deserved. While Warrican still bowled a few wicket-taking deliveries, two of which accounted for KL Rahul (38) and Sudharsan, Khary Pierre and Roston Chase were easily dispatched by the Indians throughout the day.
A standout aspect of Jaiswal's innings was the manner in which paced each of his 50s. If the first fifty runs (82 balls) were all about a cautious approach, there was controlled aggression between 50 to 100 (63 balls), and once he had reached the three-figure mark, he dictated the field placements, not taking any risks but still managing to score freely between 100 to 150 (79 balls). Among all his shots, the way he played the square cut and back cut was a treat for the fans.
Towards the end, the copybook cover-drive with a bent knee off Seales as he held the pose made for a perfect portrait. In case of Sudharsan, with some good lessons in basics of cricket, most of his 12 boundaries came in cover drives and on-drives.
The only man who might feel disappointed was Rahul as he got the best delivery bowled on the day. Warrican suddenly changed the pace of his delivery and shortened the length. Rahul came out and saw it turn sharply, beating his outside edge. There was a century there for the taking.
Scoreboard:
India's innings: Yashasvi Jaiswal batting 173 KL Rahul st Imlach b Warrican 38 B Sai Sudharsan lbw b Warrican 87 Shubman Gill batting 20; Total: 318/2 in 90 overs.
Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-251 Bowling: Jayden Seales 16-1-59-0, Anderson Phillip 13-2-44-0, Justin Greaves 8-1-26-0, Khary Pierre 20-1-74-0, Jomel Warrican 20-3-60-2, Roston Chase 13-0-55-0.
Also read: India look to wrap up series on high note
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