Matthew Hayden and Sunil Gavaskar shared some valuable advice for young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of the Boxing Day Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia, which begins on December 26 in Melbourne.
Yashasvi Jaiswal made a stellar start to his first tour of Australia with a mind-blowing knock of 161 runs in the first Test after he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings. His record ton and 200-plus partnership with KL Rahul played a key role in India’s 295-run victory over Australia.
Matthew Hayden and Sunil Gavaskar offer key advice to Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of Boxing Day Test
But after his Perth hundred, Yashasvi Jaiswal found himself at a crossroads as the youngster could only manage 0, 24, 4 and 4* in the last two Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia, with The series was tied 1-1 after a draw in the Gabba Test.
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With the fourth Test at the MCG holding significant importance, former Indian captain and legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar warned Yashasvi Jaiswal about taunting by Australian players in the Boxing Day Test, saying such things can “bite you very hard in the butt.”
Sunil Gavaskar believes Jaiswal will have to prove himself in the Boxing Day Test; Otherwise, you could face the consequences. He also urged the young opener to avoid bantering with the Australian players as his clever sledging of Mitchell Starc proved too costly for India in Adelaide.
Don’t say anything on your own: Sunil Gavaskar to Yashasvi Jaiswal
Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports: “This game can come back and bite you in the butt and bite you very hard. I think we saw a little exchange where he was talking to a senior bowler like Mitchell Starc. I think he also had something to say to Nathan Lyon during those century innings.
The only thing I would say to the young man is, you know, I think pick up the bat and start talking. Unless someone tells you something, that’s another matter. But don’t say anything on your own.”
Meanwhile, former Australian batsman Matthew Hayden admitted that Yashasvi Jaiswal is a talented player but he needs to fine-tune his scoring areas. He pointed out that Jaiswal’s recent dismissals were due to aggressively playing the ball outside the stump and falling on the stumps.
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Matthew Hayden advised Jaiswal to concentrate more and aim to take more shots down the ground rather than hitting against the angle. He pointed out that when Jaiswal played in front of the infield in the second innings, he played a crisp shot.
I would just like to see a little tweak in Yashasvi Jaiswal’s scoring areas: Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden said during the same discussion on Star Sports: “He is a quality player, but I would like to see a little adjustment in Jaiswal’s scoring areas. Each of those layoffs, that is, all three, was very different. I mean, he was attacking the ball outside the stump very hard. And then he thought the ball was sliding down the leg side at LBW. And then the one that he… But I guess the thing is that he ran into those last two layoffs.”
The Australian great explained further: “One in the air and then the switch to the pads. Maybe it’s just sometimes when you put your hands up like that. And I’m doing this to the camera right now. But if you can think in your own mind, okay, well, those are maybe my scoring areas. Whereas I think right now Jaiswal is thinking: Well, that’s my scoring area.”
In the end, Hayden feels Jaiswal should limit his approach a bit and start thinking about hitting the ground instead of hitting against that left-handed angle. He signed off by saying that if he can’t take it down completely, he can always turn his hands.