Yashasvi Jaiswal’s incredible journey in Test cricket shows no signs of slowing down. The dynamic young opener showcased his class with a superb 175 against the West Indies in the second and final Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, solidifying his status as India’s next formidable batting talent.
Jaiswal’s innings was a masterful display of patience, control, and elegant stroke play, qualities that have swiftly become his signature. After a solid 58-run opening partnership with KL Rahul, he forged an imposing 193-run stand with B Sai Sudharsan. Although Sudharsan departed for 87, Jaiswal was already well on his way to another significant century. He began cautiously, building his innings with maturity, before confidently punishing loose deliveries and rotating the strike with ease. He reached his century in style, then powered past 150 for the fifth time in just 26 Tests. His brilliant knock concluded on Day 2 when he was run out for 175.
Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif was among many who lauded Jaiswal’s performance. Taking to social media, Kaif expressed his admiration, stating, “Yashasvi is a batsman with the patience to score big hundreds and set new marks. In his first 26 matches, his numbers are as good as Sachin and Virat. His hundreds mostly put India on the path to victory. Sehwag ka 300 wala record, Jaiswal hi todega.” This bold prediction highlights the immense expectations now resting on the young cricketer’s shoulders.
This century also held a special place in cricketing history. It marked Jaiswal’s seventh Test hundred before turning 24, a remarkable achievement surpassed only by cricketing greats like Don Bradman (12), Sachin Tendulkar (11), and Garfield Sobers (9). He now shares this exclusive club with legends such as Javed Miandad, Graeme Smith, Alastair Cook, and Kane Williamson, who each had seven centuries by the same age.
Since Jaiswal’s Test debut, his consistent brilliance has been a cornerstone of India’s opening department. In this period, Jaiswal has individually notched up seven centuries, while all other Indian openers combined have managed six. Globally, the next most prolific opener in the same timeframe is England’s Ben Duckett, with four centuries.
The 23-year-old also achieved another significant milestone during this innings, completing 3,000 international runs in just 50 matches. This makes him only the fourth Indian left-handed opener to reach this landmark, following in the footsteps of Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, and Shikhar Dhawan.