BGT 2024-25: Rushed or reckless? Pujara weighs in on Jaiswal’s batting approach
Xtra Time Web Desk: Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has shared his observations on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s approach in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. While Jaiswal made a remarkable start with a brilliant century in the opening Test at Perth, his form has dipped significantly since then.
The left-handed opener smashed an impressive 161 in the second innings of the first Test, helping India secure a commanding 295-run victory. However, he has managed just 32 runs in his last four outings, raising concerns about his consistency. Jaiswal has particularly struggled against Mitchell Starc, who has dismissed him three times in five innings—including twice in the very first over.
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Analyzing Jaiswal’s recent performances, Pujara opined that the youngster seems to be in a hurry to score and needs to approach his innings with more patience.
"He needs to give himself a bit more time, the way he is playing, he is trying to rush things, he is trying to play shots a bit more. He should only play shots if he is quite sure about it, especially in the first 5-10 overs because it seems that he is in a hurry to score runs, he wants a quick start, and he wants to score those first 15-20 runs quickly," Pujara told Star Sports.
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Drawing parallels with Virender Sehwag, Pujara further emphasized the importance of timing and shot selection.
"When you are an opener in Test cricket then you don't go out searching for the ball, you play the deliveries on merit. Even if you are an aggressive player, even Virender Sehwag was an aggressive player but he used to play shots only when the ball was pitched in his zone,” he added.
Coming into the series with high expectations, Jaiswal was tipped to emerge as the leading run-scorer, especially after finishing 2024 as the second-highest run-getter in Tests. However, his inconsistency has exposed India’s top order to early pressure, making his form crucial for India’s success in the remaining matches.
