Yashasvi Jaiswal has been the nearly man of India white-ball cricket. Despite boasting a commendable average of 36.15 and a terrific strike-rate of 164.31 in 23 matches, he hasn’t played a T20I since July 2024. The logjam at the top of the ODI tree had restricted his appearance in that format to just one until last week, when an unfortunate neck injury to skipper Shubman Gill threw him an unexpected lifeline.
Perhaps overkeen to make a mark, the left-hander was dismissed for 18 in the first game and 22 in the next against South Africa in Ranchi and Raipur, respectively. With the series on the line, the 23-year-old adopted a different tack to complete the full set of international hundreds in all three formats.
Prasidh, Kuldeep shine
Prasidh Krishna, who bounced back spectacularly from an expensive opening spell, and left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who produced a stunning third-spell burst of 5-1-14-4, ensured that a rare toss won by the home side didn’t go in vain. KL Rahul’s relief at ending a streak of 20 straight ODI toss losses manifested itself in a little fist bump, and even though did send them on an initial bumpy ride with a wonderfully-crafted 23rd century — and his seventh against India — a total of 270 on an increasingly improving batting surface was never going to be the sternest examination.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is ecstatic after scoring his century againsti SA in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. Pics/BCCI
Jaiswal hogged much of the early strike though it was his former captain, Rohit Sharma, who did the running with trademark efficiency. Under lights, there was considerable seam movement for the towering Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi with the new ball. Jaiswal was beaten often outside off, but that didn’t distract him from the task at hand even as Rohit’s aggressive designs ensured the scoreboard didn’t come to a standstill.
Jaiswal shifts gears
Rohit unfurled several signature pulls to breeze to 20,000 and a 61st ODI half-century until perishing to left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. By then, 155 were on the board and Jaiswal had reached his 50, off 75 deliveries. Freed up mentally at bringing up the mini milestone, he grew in stature in Virat Kohli’s company. While the capacity crowd couldn’t have enough of the 37-year-old, Jaiswal quietly worked his way through the gears to catch up with balls faced.
Rohit had been his opening partner when Jaiswal reached his century on Test debut, in July 2023. Nearly two and a half years on, he sank into Kohli’s warm embrace after a sedate single to fine-leg that took him to what surely is the first of many ODI tons. His second fifty had come off a mere 36 balls, indicative of Jaiswal’s growing maturity and the increasing confidence that he doesn’t have to go hammer and tongs from the first ball every single innings.
Kohli thoroughly entertained the adoring audience with a magnificent cameo full of bristle and intent, clattering the boundary off Ngidi that drove India home with nine wickets and 61 balls to spare, giving them a 2-1 series triumph.
Brief scores
SA 270 all out in 47.5 overs (Q de Kock 106, T Bavuma 48; K Yadav 4-41, P Krishna 4-66) lost to India 271-1 in 39.5 overs (Y Jaiswal 116*, R Sharma 75, V Kohli 65*) by nine wickets
One
This is the first of 21 tosses that India have won since the 2023 ODI
20,048
Total international runs scored by Rohit Sharma — only the fourth Indian to cross the 20,000-run mark
Seven
No of ODI centuries by Quinton de Kock vs India — the joint-most along with SL’s Sanath Jayasuriya