Yashasvi Jaiswal’s stunning hundred illuminated the Arun Jaitley Stadium, placing India firmly in control on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies. The prodigious young opener effortlessly reached his seventh Test century off just 145 balls, extending his exceptional form in red-ball cricket.
Returning after the lunch break, Jaiswal immediately seized the initiative, elegantly dispatching Jayden Seales for three exquisite boundaries in the very first over of the session. His blend of patience and confident stroke play once again highlighted his extraordinary talent and composure at the crease.
This magnificent century holds a particularly significant place in cricket history. Achieving his seventh Test hundred before turning 24, Jaiswal now stands among an exclusive club of cricketing greats. Only Don Bradman (12), Sachin Tendulkar (11), and Garfield Sobers (9) have surpassed this monumental feat at such a young age. He now shares this remarkable milestone with other legends including Javed Miandad, Graeme Smith, Alastair Cook, and Kane Williamson, all of whom also registered seven centuries by the same age.
Since his Test debut, Jaiswal’s consistent brilliance has been a cornerstone of India’s opening batting. During this period, Jaiswal has scored an astounding seven hundreds, while all other Indian openers combined have managed six. Globally, his nearest rival in terms of prolific opening centuries within the same timeframe is England’s Ben Duckett, who has four.
Earlier in his innings, the 23-year-old also marked another significant achievement, crossing 3,000 international runs in a mere 50 matches. This makes him only the fourth Indian left-handed opener to reach this landmark, following in the footsteps of celebrated cricketers like Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, and Shikhar Dhawan.
Alongside Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan displayed unwavering solidity at the crease, remaining unbeaten on 57 as play continued. Their century partnership was crucial in maintaining India’s strong position after the early departure of KL Rahul for 32.
Earlier in the day, Shubman Gill, making his debut as India’s captain, won the toss and chose to bat first. Jaiswal and Rahul provided a stable foundation before the young southpaw confidently took charge of the innings.
Despite recent setbacks in white-ball selections, Jaiswal’s century in Delhi serves as a powerful testament to his exceptional temperament and growing maturity. As he raised his bat to a thunderous ovation, the stadium celebrated a player who is rapidly emerging as one of India’s brightest and most promising young stars.