Watch: India head coach Rahul Dravid smiled in amusement as Yashasvi Jaiswal brought out two audacious reverse sweeps across three deliveries en route to his third century in Test cricket, on day three of the Rajkot Test.
Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match awards, player interviews, analysis and much more.
Jaiswal was the star for India with the bat on the third evening, shifting gears post tea to put India in a commanding position. When he had to retire hurt on 104, India’s lead had already crossed 300. They ended the day on 196-2, the lead stretching to 322, with two whole days still left in the game.
Jaiswal’s double reverse sweep
In the 33rd over of India’s innings, Jaiswal decided to be inventive, tackling Rehan Ahmed the way England’s batters had dealt with India’s spinners. Off the third ball, he put a short one away by implementing a reverse-pull that raced to the deep point fence. A ball later, Jaiswal was at it again, reverse sweeping Rehan again to the same region to move to 88.
The cameras panned towards Dravid in the dressing room, sitting with batting coach Vikram Rathour. As soon as Jaiswal connected the second shot, Rathour gave Dravid a pat on his shoulder. Dravid put out a sheepish smile, amused by how his pupil was taking on Test cricket, vastly different from his own time.
Jaiswal has now scored two century and a double century in his first seven Tests. Having tweaked his back towards the end of the day, he’s likely to be back to bat on the fourth morning after the next wicket falls.
