Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Yashasvi Jaiswal for playing a fighting knock in Team India’s second innings of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. He also appreciated a six the left-handed opener hit over extra cover off Glenn Phillips as well. However, Jaiswal smashed 77 off 65 in India’s second-innings total of 245 on Saturday, October 26 as well.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra said, “The thought process was important. He came with the mindset to attack. The good thing with Yashasvi Jaiswal is that the way he played spin in the fourth innings on a slightly turning pitch here, he would have played the same way had it been the first innings on a flat pitch in Rajkot because this is his way of scoring runs against spin.”
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“So Yashasvi was just being himself. What he did against fast bowling, hit a six in the first over, that was something different. Southee might not have been ready for the way he thrashed him. However, he has been playing like this only against spin. He has all the skills against spin. I feel the six he hit off Glenn Phillips was the shot of the match,” the former India opener further added.
In the same discussion, Parthiv Patel also stated that Yashasvi Jaiswal was aggressive from the outset and he didn’t allow Mitchell Santner to bowl into the rough as well.
“You immediately saw the change in approach because you saw a big shot off the second ball itself. After that, he kept playing attacking shots. He was looking to use his feet against both fast bowlers and spinners. When Santner came to bowl, he didn’t allow him to bowl into the rough that is there outside the off-stump for a left-hander. He used his feet and played the sweeps, but he played everything with the spin. The shot he hit off Glenn Phillips was also with the spin over cover. When you play on turning wickets, you need to minimize your percentage of getting out. If you play against the spin, the chances of getting out increase,” Patel concluded.
