Yashasvi Jaiswal, India’s rising star opener, has received high praise from legendary West Indies captain Brian Lara, who believes the 22-year-old has the potential to excel in any conditions, including the challenging pitches of Australia.
Jaiswal has made a remarkable start to his Test career, amassing 1217 runs in 11 matches at an impressive average of 64.05. However, the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia will present a new test for the young opener.
Lara, who famously scored 277 in Sydney on his maiden trip to Australia in 1992-93, believes Jaiswal’s mental strength will be crucial to his success Down Under. “The adjustment is upstairs,” Lara said. “The adjustment is the ability to back your talent in whatever conditions.”
Lara emphasized that Jaiswal’s technical skills are already strong, but he needs to develop a strong mindset to overcome the challenges of playing away from home and facing a formidable Australian team.
Jaiswal’s impressive performances in India’s home Tests this year, where he has scored 901 runs in seven games, have caught Lara’s attention. The former West Indies captain also highlighted Abhishek Sharma, who made his T20I debut earlier this year, as another exciting young Indian batter.
“They’re very young, and they play the game in a style [that is] very attacking, very stylish,” Lara said of Jaiswal and Sharma. “It’s great to see them go from strength to strength.”
As India prepares for the three-match Test series against New Zealand starting October 16, Jaiswal has been rested from the ongoing T20I series against Bangladesh. The Test team will then embark on the tour of Australia, where they will face the Aussies in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting November 22.
