NEW DELHI: Yashasvi Jaiswal was 21 when he made his Test debut under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. In the match against the West Indies in Roseau, a nervous but determined Jaiswal was asked to open the innings alongside him.Facing his first delivery, Kemar Roach banged in a short one down the leg side. With butterflies in his stomach, Jaiswal went for an ambitious pull and missed completely. Rohit, frustrated, walked over to the youngster for a quick word of advice and encouragement.Jaiswal returned to the crease, more composed, and focused on leaving the deliveries be. He survived a couple of edgy moments before finally getting off the mark on the 16th ball — an upper-cut for four off Alzarri Joseph. This time, Rohit walked up with a smile.What followed was a dream debut — a magnificent 171 in his maiden Test innings.
The guidance he received from seniors like Rohit and Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in shaping him into the dependable batter he is today. Whether it was his debut or the Australia tour — where he emerged as India’s highest run-scorer — the presence of seasoned campaigners at the other end, their signals, timely advice, and calm support, helped Jaiswal evolve into a mature cricketer.But the upcoming England series presents a different challenge. There will be no Rohit. No Virat. No one to walk down the pitch, offer advice, or steer him through tough phases in tricky conditions.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?This time, Jaiswal, 23, will walk out as India’s ‘senior’ opener — the man expected to lay a solid foundation. He now carries the responsibility once shouldered by the legends.His childhood coach Jwala Singh is confident that Jaiswal will rise to the occasion in England — but adds that in the absence of stalwarts like Rohit and Virat, he’ll need to mix his aggression with caution and shoulder the responsibility with maturity.“When Yashasvi batted with Rohit, he got constant guidance. Even Virat would’ve helped him when he first joined the Indian team. But things have changed quickly. Now Shubman (GIll) is captain, and there’s no Rohit or Virat. It’s going to be a very different unit — and there’s no clear guiding force in the batting lineup. Someone like Rishabh Pant has been criticized before for rash shots, so we’ll have to see how this group plans and controls its aggression. I’m excited to see how this new unit handles the challenge,” Jwala told TimesofIndia.com.India and England are set to play a five-match Test series, with the first Test beginning on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds.Jaiswal is expected to open the innings for India — but who will partner him? Will it be Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul, or Sai Sudharsan? That answer will unfold soon.A young-looking Indian side, led by Gill, will look to create history in England. The last time India won a Test series on English soil was back in 2007 under Rahul Dravid’s leadership. Before that, India registered historic series wins in 1971 under Ajit Wadekar and in 1986 under Kapil Dev.“This is a very young Indian side. If you look at teams that have struggled in England in the past, they often had several senior players. That’s my concern too. After Rohit and Virat, their sudden absence has left a vacuum. Captain Shubman Gill has experience, but his recent form hasn’t been great either. So captaincy will also be a challenge for him. These youngsters are now stepping into senior roles, and it won’t be easy — especially for the batters. Taking over from legends like Rohit and Virat is a big ask. We’re all eager to see how this series unfolds,” Jwala said.“It’s going to be challenging. If you look at England’s home record in Test cricket, it’s always a tough place to tour. India seem to have done some homework — they sent the team early, and India A matches were played. The key will be to understand the conditions and the pitches. I travel to England every year, and the biggest challenge is the weather — it changes constantly, and rain is always a factor. So, it won’t be easy. But I hope both India and Yashasvi perform well across the five Tests.
“The Indian batting unit will rely heavily on him — just like it once did on greats like Sachin, Dravid, and later Virat. Yashasvi needs to take on that responsibility now and play that same anchoring role. He’s the kind of player who delivers once he sets his mind to something. I believe he’ll be one of the senior batters now, and I’m confident he will score runs. His role is extremely important in this team,” he said.
WILL YASHASVI GO THE ‘BAZBALL’ WAY IN ENGLAND?
Known for giving his team explosive starts, taking calculated risks, and playing aggressive strokes with a high strike rate, Jaiswal has built a reputation as an attacking opener.With England’s Bazball approach redefining Test cricket, all eyes will be on him to see if he answers fire with fire.But will this high-risk, high-reward approach work in England’s testing conditions? That remains the big question.
Poll
Should Yashasvi adopt a more aggressive style of batting in the England series?
“It’s great to hear terms like Bazball, but in five-day cricket, technique still matters a lot. Bazball is about intent — attacking the bowlers and playing with aggression. But doing that while managing conditions is key. In the Australia series, Yashasvi had seniors around him, which gave him the freedom to play his shots. But this time, the responsibility is greater. The batting lineup will depend heavily on him. This series will be a real test — of his technique, temperament, and ability to win sessions for India. He will have to play sensible cricket and with caution,” Jawala said.“When he wasn’t doing well in the IPL, we practiced with a plastic sheet on the wicket to simulate uneven bounce. A sidearm specialist would bowl at 160-170 kmph — faster than even Jofra Archer. I’d ask him to clear mid-on and mid-off, play his pull shots, and train for hours — sometimes three to four hours a day. That hard work paid off. He went back to the IPL and delivered,” he said.“He trained the same way ahead of the series and I hope this will help him in swing conditions in England,” the coach signed off.
