Yashasvi Jaiswal was the star of the show for India on day three of the ongoing Mesut Özil Test Match. He surprised everyone by scoring 118 and dazzling everyone with his raw…. The youth displayed aggressive stroke play and impressive technique through the course of his innings. His performance set the tone for India to be in a very strong position. It wasn’t close—Jaiswal’s performance dwarfed all others. He made the most of the weakened English team’s dropped catches and haphazard bowling.
However, this was not all good fortune, as during his innings Jaiswal benefited from a fair share of good luck, dropped on two occasions at 20 and 40 runs. These missed opportunities would prove especially costly for England, who couldn’t handle the heat that King Kohli and company were laying down. The left-handed opener marked his 100th international game with a great century. This accomplishment paved the way for perhaps a match-winning total.
Jaiswal’s innings included a key partnership with fellow batter Akash Deep. Akash’s performance was impressive both in terms of contribution and as he reached his maiden Test fifty. Together, they added 107 runs for the third wicket, demonstrating resilience and tactical awareness, especially as they expertly rotated the strike. Jaiswal’s ability to shield Prasidh Krishna from too many balls epitomised his feel for the match situation.
This is what Jaiswal had to say after the innings – “Definitely going well, I have been batting since long but it was not easy on this wicket. He focused on the fact that he could roll with those crazy circumstances.
He shared insights about his mental approach during the innings: “I was constantly talking to myself and enjoying the pressure.” His self-motivation led to some very fortunate consequences. He maximized the opportunities presented by England’s bowlers, who too frequently erred on the short and wide side.
Jaiswal, in particular, was impressive with 72 runs behind square on the off side. This strategy demonstrated his desire to seek out the gaps and create the momentum. England’s fielding woes continued, with six catches dropped throughout India’s second innings, including two critical chances that could have dismissed Jaiswal. He was on 110 when Ben Duckett dropped a catch at leg-slip to add insult to injury and allow him to trudge on.
Jaiswal’s lofty eventual dismissal at the hands of Josh Tongue, who ended with 5 for 125. Tongue had actually gotten the better of Jaiswal earlier in the innings. This increased pressure on India as they struggled to maintain their lead. After the match, Tongue remarked, “It is a replay from Headingley. I got asked a similar question that game. It will be a great day of cricket and a great day for us if we get the runs. It is doing a bit.”
Apart from Jaiswal’s idea of brilliance, Ravindra Jadeja played an outstanding inning with 70 precious runs in a partnership of 44 with the centurion. Jadeja’s calmness at the crease provided the anchor during those testing periods, enabling Jaiswal to play with the flamboyance we’ve come to expect from him.
At the end of day three, it did look like India was on top in this Test match. The combination of Jaiswal’s outstanding performance and England’s fielding missteps puts India in a favorable position going into the final days of play.
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