Yashasvi Jaiswal faced a tough time in the nets on Sunday, September 15, just days before India’s first Test against Bangladesh at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The young opener struggled to find his rhythm, prompting intervention from former captain Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir.
As reported by the Indian Express, Kohli, waiting for his turn to bat, observed Jaiswal’s difficulties. Jasprit Bumrah, India’s star pacer, clean-bowled Jaiswal, sending the middle stump cartwheeling as the ball squeezed through the gap between his bat and pad. While getting out to a bowler of Bumrah’s caliber isn’t unusual, it was the repeated nature of Jaiswal’s dismissals that raised concerns.
Noticing this, Kohli called the young batter aside for a quick chat to boost his confidence and offer advice. However, Jaiswal’s struggles were not limited to Bumrah alone. Other pacers, including Akash Deep, who had previously troubled him in the Duleep Trophy clash, Mohammed Siraj, and net bowler Yudhvir Singh from Jammu and Kashmir, also had the upper hand against the Mumbai batter.
ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma Emphasizes Focus On Bangladesh Series, Not Just A Rehearsal For Down Under Tour
After his interaction with Kohli, Jaiswal returned to the nets, but the difficulties persisted. Sensing the need for a technical adjustment, Gambhir, regarded as one of India’s finest left-handed batters, stepped in.
All eyes will be firmly on Shubman Gill. Given the stability provided by his predecessor at No 3, there are still doubts whether Gill is the best candidate for the role.
By @venkatatweets https://t.co/v5qaUmtJfY
— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) September 17, 2024
He took Jaiswal to the side nets for an intensive 20-minute session, focusing on helping him get behind the line of the ball. Gambhir’s throw-downs aimed to correct the youngster’s stance and timing.
Jaiswal had a stellar performance earlier this year, scoring a remarkable 712 runs during India’s five-match Test series against England. However, his form dipped afterwards. He had a subdued Indian Premier League (IPL) season and did not feature in any matches during the T20 World Cup 2024.
ALSO READ: Aakash Chopra Unveils Australian Media’s Role In Exaggerating Indian Team Tensions During 2018-19 BGT
Jaiswal’s performance at the top order is crucial, with India set to play 10 Tests in the coming months, including the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. On a positive note, the report indicated that Jaiswal managed to bat with ease against spinners, launching several big sixes on the on-side.
