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While Jaiswal may have employed the cliché of having the “intent to play positive cricket” to describe his 74-ball blitz, the impact of his innings is bound to resonate significantly within the confines of the dressing room.”I don’t think it was any tactic (attacking England spinners early on Thursday evening), as I was just thinking to play well against certain balls, play some positive shots,” Jaiswal humbly offered in his post-day press meet in Hyderabad on Friday.
Yet, the assertive approach Jaiswal displayed in seizing the initiative from England might evoke memories of a certain Virender Sehwag, especially considering his runs came at a strike rate of 108.
Alternatively, some may attribute that innings to him being a product of the T20 era. While the 22-year-old is indeed an excellent T20 player, categorising his innings solely in that context would be an oversimplified and lazy assessment, overlooking its broader significance.
Jaiswal was scrupulous in his shot-selection and there was hardly a moment when Jaiswal looked ill at ease in the crease.
His footwork was precise, as he seldom found himself in an ungainly position while executing a shot. It was madness with a method.
Now, roll back the memory to his debut Test hundred against the West Indies last year – a 387-ball 171 that spanned over 501 minutes.
It was a classic Test innings, built with care and patience.
So, now we have two Jaiswal knocks at the opposite ends of the spectrum and that adaptability to the situations makes the Mumbai lad a valuable entity in the eyes of the think tank led by head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma.
Jaiswal could have stuck in and nurdled the ball around on Friday morning to get another hundred but he looked to continue his dominance over England bowlers.
But a moment of over-enthusiasm cost him the wicket against Joe Root.
Jaiswal admitted that it would have been nice to get a hundred, but was not a repentant person.
“Yes, it would have been amazing if I scored a hundred but I think what brought me here was my process and thinking,” Jaiswal said, hinting at the desire to follow his natural game.
That path can be fraught with danger, but one Jaiswal is ready to tread.
“I was trying to do my best and sometimes it (playing aggressive cricket) can work well, sometimes it won’t.
“I can commit a mistake and get out but I am trying to make sure that I learn from my mistakes,” he noted.
That thick layer of gray matter between his ears might have prompted Dravid recently to proclaim Jaiswal as the preferred partner of Rohit at the opening slot.
“As of now, we will certainly be opening with Rohit and Jaiswal. We’re really happy with what Jaiswal has done as an opener for us. He gives us a left-right combination as well at the top,” Dravid had said.
The judgment of Dravid rarely goes wrong.
(With inputs from PTI)
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