Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Unbeaten 179 Puts India in Command on Opening Day of 2nd Test Against England

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal showcased his batting prowess with an unbeaten knock of 179 on the opening day of the second Test match between India and England. Despite facing regular strikes from the England bowlers, including debutant Shoaib Bashir‘s two wickets, India managed to reach a strong total of 336-6 at stumps in Visakhapatnam.

Jaiswal, known for his aggressive style, played a mature innings and formed a valuable partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin, who remained not out on five at the end of the day’s play.

England’s spin duo, Tom Hartley and Rehan Ahmed, managed to take two wickets each, causing some trouble for the Indian batsmen. However, Jaiswal’s brilliant batting performance took the game away from the visitors.

The left-handed Jaiswal attacked the England spinners, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Hartley and smashing a six to reach his second Test century. He celebrated the milestone by removing his helmet, raising his arms, and blowing a kiss to the crowd.

Jaiswal continued to dominate the England bowlers and powered India’s innings despite losing wickets at the other end. The 22-year-old’s spectacular innings included 17 fours and five sixes, surpassing his previous Test best of 171 scored on debut against the West Indies last year.

Jaiswal’s unbeaten 179 is now the second-highest score by an Indian on the opening day of a home Test match, behind Wasim Jaffer’s 192* against Pakistan in 2007.

Former England captain Alastair Cook praised Jaiswal’s exceptional performance, stating that his innings showcased maturity and skill at just 22 years old. Cook also highlighted the importance of Jaiswal’s innings in a relatively fragile Indian batting lineup.

Jaiswal, during an interview, mentioned his focus on playing session by session and capitalizing on loose deliveries. The pitch at Visakhapatnam presented varying challenges throughout the day, with changes in bounce and spin as the ball got older.

Shoaib Bashir, the debutant spinner, impressed with his disciplined bowling and claimed two crucial wickets, including the dismissal of Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Bashir’s variety and guile, showcased in just his seventh first-class match, made an impact after facing visa delays ahead of his arrival in India.

Overall, Jaiswal’s phenomenal innings puts India in a strong position heading into the second day of the Test match. The team will be hoping to capitalize on their current advantage and bounce back in the series after losing the first Test.