Let's take a trip down memory lane to Senwes Park in Potchefstroom. On February 9, 2020, when Bangladesh was intoxicated with the joy of winning the U-19 World Cup, the Indian cricketers including Yasswi Jaiswal fell into despair. But after four years, the gap between the cricketers of the two teams is stark.
Under-19 World Cup winners Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tanjid Hasan Tamim, Tawheed Hriday have already spent more than a year in international cricket. Jaiswal's career in the Indian jersey begins in 2023. Where international cricket is the stage to match itself, Bangladesh's victory-Tanjid Tamim failed there. Their education is still going on. But their contemporary, Jaiswal, is flying. This Indian left-handed batsman is making one record after another. Although Jai has a century in international cricket, Tanjid Tamim, Hridoy are waiting to touch three figures.
Jaiswal's Test debut at Windsor Park in Dominica in July 2023 was memorable. He scored 171 runs in the first innings in the royal edition of cricket. The 22-year-old Indian batsman has scored 1528 runs in 15 Tests so far. He made all three of the 4 centuries in 2024. He shared the record of legends like Sachin Tendulkar-Ravi Shastri. Sachin, Shastri and Jaiswal have three Test centuries each before turning 23. Jaiswal's current age is 22 years 332 days.
Jaiswal knows well when to be offensive and when to be defensive by understanding the situation of the match. He has hit 35 sixes in Tests this year. Which is the record for highest number of sixes in a single year in the royal edition of cricket. Earlier this record was held by Brendon McCullum of New Zealand. In 2014, the Ki hit 33 sixes in this batter's Test. Jaiswal, who is used to aggressive batting, batted in a slightly different style in the ongoing first Test against Australia in Perth. Jaiswal scored a 205-ball century on the third day today after being called in the first innings. The Indian left-handed batsman reached three figures by hitting Josh Hazlewood for a six. After the century, he celebrated by raising his helmet and bat towards the sky.
Jaiswal, who completed the fourth century of his Test career, was dismissed for 161 runs. He hit 15 fours and 3 sixes in an innings of 297 balls. Till writing this report, India have scored 352 runs for 5 wickets in 106 overs. Virat Kohli and Washington Sundar are batting for 35 and 11 runs. The visitors' lead is now 398 runs. Jaiswal and Lokesh Rahul have laid the foundation of such a big collection in India. Jaiswal-Rahul added 201 runs off 383 balls in the opening pair of the second innings.
While Jaiswal is playing in Perth, his cricketer contemporary Joy is busy in Antigua. Both Jai-Jaiswal are playing as openers. However, Joy showed failure in the first Test of the series against the West Indies. He scored 5 runs despite playing 33 balls. This 24-year-old Bangladeshi batsman has no fifty in the last 12 innings in the Test. He scored the only century in March-April 2022 in Durban. Sebar scored 137 runs in the first innings against South Africa, but Bangladesh lost that Test by 220 runs. Tanjid Tamim, on the other hand, is yet to debut in the heart test. But where can they match themselves in white ball cricket. Hriday has failed in two consecutive ICC events (2023 ODI World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup).
And Tanjid Tamim. Even if Jaiswal is flying, Tanjid Tamim-hearts are washing regularly.
