Team India head coach Rahul Dravid said that he was extremely happy with the way Yashasvi Jaiswal adapted his game according to the situation during his debut in a Test match against West Indies in Dominica. Stating that youngsters like Jaiswal and Shubman Gill will be tested as well. However, Jaiswal had a stunning Test debut against West Indies in Dominica, scoring 171 off 387 balls as India won the game by an innings and 141 runs.
At a press conference prior to the second Test against West Indies at Port of Spain, Dravid said: “I was very pleased to see that he was willing to play an attacking game when required, but also knuckle down and be defensive and work hard for his runs when required. As a coach, nothing pleases you more than that.”
On the challenges for the players that lie ahead for them, Dravid added: “I know that Jaiswal and Gill will face other tougher challenges as they play more and more cricket. Teams will start getting to know them better. The challenge for Jaiswal [and Gill] is to respond to the tactics and strategies that West Indies is going to come up with in this game.”
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While Jaiswal smashed a hundred in Dominica, Gill was dismissed for 6. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan has also made his debut on the Test and he was petty good behind the stumps on a tricky wicket.
He shared: “It’s nice from our perspective, as a coach for me, [for players] to come in and perform straightaway and do really well – whether it’s Yashasvi in the last game or the way Shubman has grown over the last 6-8 months. Even seeing the way Ishan [Kishan] just came in and kept in the last game – on a difficult wicket, he did a really good job.”
While saying that Indian cricket is going through a transition phase, Rahul Dravid gave credit to the domestic system and the environment around the Indian team for this as well.
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“A lot of young players are able to come in and perform straight away when they come into the Indian team. A lot of credit of that should also go to the domestic system, producing these kinds of players, especially in the batting department. Also, the relaxed environment that the team has been able to create allows young players to come in and express themselves. A lot of players even in T20s and one-dayers have come through really well. Credit to the domestic season, the NCA and a lot of other people, who can make that possible for us,” Rahul Dravid concluded.
