Yashasvi Jaiswal once again showcased his fearless strokeplay with a sparkling 87 off just 107 balls on Day 1 of the second Test between India and England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The young left-hander lit up the opening session with his aggressive intent, ensuring India got off to a solid start after losing KL Rahul early. By stumps, India had reached 310/5 in 85 overs, with Jaiswal playing a pivotal role in setting the tone.

Throughout his innings, Jaiswal didn’t shy away from playing his shots, especially punishing anything wide or short. He flirted with danger more than once, particularly with the cut shot that had caused trouble in the previous Test at Headingley. Despite those moments, he remained committed to his attacking approach.

Just as he seemed poised for another memorable century—his second of the series and sixth overall—he fell to a short and wide delivery from Ben Stokes. Attempting an ambitious cut, he managed only a bottom edge through to keeper Jamie Smith, who gleefully accepted the catch.

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Former India batting mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara, analyzing the innings post-play, noted that bowlers need a tight plan to contain someone like Jaiswal, whose shot range and confidence can quickly dismantle an attack.

“You’ve got to hit that good length consistently, just outside off-stump. Don’t give him room or overpitch. If you’re patient enough, he might make a mistake,” Cheteshwar Pujara told the broadcasters.

He added that once Jaiswal gets into his rhythm, he becomes a nightmare for bowlers.

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“Initially, he was a bit eager, playing too many shots. But after he settled in, his strokeplay was top-notch. Once he’s in, he’s hard to dislodge. He capitalizes on every loose delivery,” Cheteshwar Pujara said.

“With his ability to drive, cut, and pull with equal authority, the margin for error against him is almost nonexistent,” he concluded.