IND vs SL: Yashasvi Jaiswal had a disappointing second innings in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. After being run out for 32 in the first innings, the Indian opener was dismissed for a duck in the second innings.
Jaiswal’s second-innings stay lasted only three balls.
Jaiswal falls to Asitha Fernando
Sri Lankan pacer Asitha Fernando bowled a good-length delivery outside the off stump. The ball moved away from Jaiswal.
The Indian opener stepped towards the delivery but did not move his feet enough. The ball caught the bottom part of his bat. The wicketkeeper stayed low and completed a simple catch. Jaiswal was gone without scoring.
Another problem with cut shot
Jaiswal’s dismissal also highlighted an interesting weakness in his Test batting. According to the statistics provided, this was the 8th time Jaiswal had been dismissed while attempting a cut shot in Test cricket.
The shot is normally one of his strongest scoring options. He scores at a strike rate of around 173 when playing the cut shot.
However, the aggressive nature of the shot has also brought wickets. Last year against the West Indies, Jaiswal scored 47 runs from 27 balls using the cut shot. He was also dismissed four times while attempting it during that period.
Jaiswal’s weapon and weakness
There is an interesting contrast in Jaiswal’s numbers. The cut shot allows him to score quickly and put pressure on bowlers. But his willingness to attack deliveries outside off stump can also create opportunities for the opposition.
That makes his dismissal in Galle less about one bad shot and more about a pattern that bowlers could look to exploit. For Jaiswal, the challenge will be finding the right balance between aggression and shot selection.
Jaiswal records his 7th Test duck
The dismissal was also Jaiswal’s seventh duck in Test cricket. He made his Test debut for India against the West Indies in 2023. Since then, he has established himself as one of India’s most important young batters.
However, ducks have occasionally interrupted his otherwise impressive record. He was dismissed for two ducks during India’s England tour last year. He also recorded ducks during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Jaiswal joins an unwanted list
Jaiswal’s 7th Test duck puts him alongside several well-known Test openers. Among the players listed in the supplied statistics, the numbers are:
| Player | Test Ducks |
|---|---|
| Jack Crawley | 10 |
| Rory Burns | 8 |
| Mahmudul Hasan Joy | 8 |
| Kraigg Brathwaite | 7 |
| Tom Latham | 7 |
| David Warner | 7 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 7 |