“I think he’ll establish himself completely in Indian Test team”

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has backed Yashasvi Jaiswal to cement his place in the Indian Test side during the upcoming five-match home Test series against England. He also said that Jaiswal would succeed in home conditions, having opened for India in the West Indies and South Africa as well.

On Saturday, Gavaskar told Star Sports’ Gameplan: “Yashasvi Jaiswal will easily settle in home conditions. He’s also a left-hander. I think he’ll establish himself completely in the Indian Test team after this series.”

However, Jaiswal, who smashed 171 on his debut against the West Indies, managed only 50 runs during the recently concluded two-match Test series in South Africa. The series also saw Shubman Gill, India captain Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer score 74, 60 and 41 runs, respectively. Gavaskar has also backed Shreyas Iyer to do well in the upcoming Test series.

“In the World Cup, Shreyas Iyer batted brilliantly in Indian pitches, so I’m hoping he’ll play similarly at No.5 in the Test series. He batted aggressively, was quite watchful at the start and then his stroke-making after reading the pitch was a delight to watch. I hope he’ll replicate that.”

Shreyas Iyer scored 530 runs in 11 innings during the 50-over ICC World Cup 2023, hitting two tons and three half-centuries. The middle order has 707 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 39.28, including one century and five fifties as well. Sunil Gavaskar further added that Rohit Sharma’s captaincy would be tested in the opening Test against England in Hyderabad as well.

“As captain, he (Rohit Sharma) needs to use his bowlers cleverly. Usually in Hyderabad, there is not enough turn on offer, so if England bats first and make a successful start till lunch, there we’ve to see how he uses his bowlers to judge him. Rohit Sharma scored a tremendous century against England in the Chennai Test during the previous home series. He showed how to bat in a spin-friendly pitch. If he bats similarly then Team India will get a good start. It also eases the work for No. 3 and 4 batters,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.