Fri Oct 10 ’25
On a typically slow Feroz Shah Kotla track, the West Indies bowling was disciplined – no extras during the day – without being intrusive in the first and last sessions; in the middle session they lost all accuracy as India plundered 126 runs without a wicket.
Jaiswal just reacted purely to what was thrown at him. He was alert for the first hour, then cashed in on some loose bowling and then tightened up again as the West Indies settled into place in the final session. At one point, when Jaiswal was on 93, the fast bowlers had served him six half-volley boundaries, four short-ball boundaries, and one off just fuller than good length. Against good length balls, Jaiswal didn’t try to score any boundaries.
Jaiswal is now tied with Graeme Smith for most centuries as an under-24 opener. Among all Indian batsmen, only Sachin Tendulkar scored more hundreds before his 24th birthday. Of course, Jaiswal went past 150 for the fifth time in his seven centuries. Only Don Bradman had more scores of 150 or more before he turned 24.
The other 23-year-old, Sudharsan, is said to have been desperate to get his count started. Chosen to play Test cricket with a first-class average below 40, he must feel under little pressure as the No. 3 in a country full of batting talent. He came out early to join Jaiswal after Jomel Warrican played one alarmingly past the bat of KL Rahul. Sudharsan added 197 for the second wicket with Jaiswal, played his first false shot on 58 and was dropped, and only got to his third false shot in an innings of 165 balls: another Warrican delivery that turned alarmingly.
Read more at Cricinfo
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