In a recent press conference during the India versus England Test series, English batter Ben Duckett stirred controversy with his remarks about Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s performance. Duckett suggested that Jaiswal’s aggressive batting style, particularly his double century in Rajkot, was influenced by England’s Bazball gameplay, spearheaded by Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
Jaiswal’s exceptional innings in Rajkot, where he scored an unbeaten 214 with 12 sixes and 14 boundaries, left a lasting impression. However, Duckett’s comments attributing Jaiswal’s success to England’s playing style received mixed reactions.
Responding to Duckett’s statement, Yashasvi Jaiswal remained diplomatic, stating, “I don’t want to say anything about it. I just need to try and do whatever I can do on the ground that says the best I can do.” Duckett’s original comment suggested that England should take some credit for influencing Jaiswal’s distinctive approach to Test cricket.
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Duckett’s remarks faced criticism from fellow Englishmen, notably Nasser Hussain, who questioned the validity of Duckett’s claim. Hussain emphasized Jaiswal’s exceptional form throughout the series, during which he accumulated a remarkable 712 runs in nine innings. This feat placed Jaiswal in an elite category alongside cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar as one of the highest run-scorers in a bilateral series.
Reflecting on his outstanding performance, Yashasvi Jaiswal remained grounded and focused on the task at hand. “It’s a great feeling, I’m happy but I want to be more focused, so that I can do well for my team. I’m not thinking about anything today. I want to take one match at a time. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, so I don’t want to think too much,” he remarked.
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Yashasvi Jaiswal’s humility and commitment to his team’s success overshadowed the controversy surrounding Duckett’s remarks, emphasizing the importance of staying focused on performance rather than engaging in external debates.
