Ind vs Eng 2nd Test: In-form Yashasvi Jaiswal misses century by 13 runs

Yashasvi Jaiswal during his 87 vs England yesterday. Pic/Bipin Patel

Yashasvi Jaiswal's love for the England bowling is well known. He had come to England on the back of a massive 712-run effort in the five-match home series in early 2024, but there was bound to be uncertainty when playing a Test series in England for the first time. Some experts wondered if he would be as successful against them in the tough conditions away from home and he has answered that question convincingly.

Jaiswal thwarted

Following a century in the first Test at Headingley, he looked set for an encore at Edgbaston. But it was not to be as edged a Ben Stokes delivery to the wicketkeeper and stood at the wicket for a long time in utter disappointment. The Indian fans at the ground too were stunned as Jaiswal not only fell 13 runs short of his sixth Test century in his 21st Test, but also got out 10 runs short of becoming the fastest Indian to 2000 Test runs. Legendary Sunil Gavaskar had touched the 2000-run mark in the 23rd Test in 1979. Of course, he can overtake that in the second innings, but that will surely not compensate for the century he missed out on due to an injudicious shot.

Though Jaiswal had a memorable century in the first Test at Leeds, he was a disaster on the field. He had dropped as many as four catches and bore the brunt of the fans' ire both at the stadium and on social media. But the hard-working and mentally strong Jaiswal put that nightmare behind him and again got down to the task of tackling the England bowlers.

Though the day had started as a cool and cloudy morning, it became bright and sunny as the day progressed. And his batting also flourished accordingly, playing some aggressive cuts, pulls, and drives. There were also a few rash strokes by the hugely talented UP-born Mumbaikar, who survived them till he ran out of luck. In an attempt to guide a rising Stokes delivery to the third man, he edged it to Jaime Smith behind the stumps.

From strength to strength

Jaiswal has been going from strength to strength ever since he made his Test debut in the Caribbean in July 2021, with a magnificent innings of 171. Though we know the Windies are not the same force they were in days gone by, yet beginning a Test career overseas with a big ton was a big achievement. After scoring two double centuries (209 at Vizag and 214 not out at Rajkot) in the home series against England in February 2024, he had another big one, 161 at Perth in November 2024. At Headingley, he got out to his lowest three-figure innings (101), and just when it seemed he would get another century before the tea interval, like he did at Leeds, his luck ran out. He now tallies 1990 runs in 21 games, but more impressively, 904 have come in only seven Test matches against England, with the second innings yet to come.

904
Total number of runs scored by Yashasvi Jaiswal in seven Tests vs Eng @ 82.18