Alastair Cook, the former England captain, lauded India’s opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for his stellar unbeaten innings of 179 on the first day of the second Test in Visakhapatnam. Jaiswal’s remarkable performance propelled India to a total of 336 for six by the close of play, overshadowing the struggles of his teammates who failed to make significant contributions with the bat. Cook, who led England to a Test series victory in India in 2012, emphasized that Jaiswal’s exceptional innings masked India’s batting frailties.
IND VS ENG 2nd TEST
“Jaiswal has been absolutely exceptional,” remarked Cook during a post-match analysis on TNT Sports. “With his unbeaten 179, he essentially carried the Indian innings on his shoulders while the rest of the team faltered, leaving them at 158-6 on what was a reasonably good day one pitch. Despite India’s fragile batting lineup, Jaiswal’s performance has somewhat concealed their batting concerns.”
Kevin Pietersen, Cook’s former teammate, echoed similar sentiments, criticizing India’s conservative batting approach and asserting that England held the advantage at the end of day one, despite Jaiswal’s heroics.
“One characteristic of the England team is their intent to attack and score briskly when they come out to bat,” Pietersen remarked on Jio Cinema. “Their positive approach contrasts with India’s batting display today. In my opinion, England has gained the upper hand in the game. The pitch didn’t display any significant difficulties on day one, with even bounce and no alarming spin that would warrant India losing more than three or four wickets.”
Reflecting on his innings, Jaiswal acknowledged the challenges posed by the initial conditions but expressed his determination to capitalize on loose deliveries and contribute significantly to his team’s cause.
Initially, the pitch had some moisture, offering spin and bounce, with a touch of seam,” Jaiswal commented on his innings. “However, my focus was on converting loose deliveries and anchoring the innings till the end. I’m eager to build on this performance and contribute further to the team’s success.
