Selectors named Yashasvi Jaiswal to replace the injured Virat Kohli for the upcoming ODIs against Afghanistan.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma celebrate after taking Delhi Capitals to victory against Rajasthan Royals during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Twenty20 cricket match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, on Friday, May 1, 2026.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Hot commodity: Samson, who delivered a masterpiece at the ICC T20 World Cup and won the Lead Actor honours, is primed to extend his purple patch in Chennai’s Yellow.
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India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal is ushering in a new era with his fearlessness
| Photo Credit: AP

Strange things happen when you are out of form. Or when you develop a technical flaw late in your career. You tend to get the best deliveries and your inadequate responses overlap with the bowler’s finest. Ask Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma.

Despite Kohli’s century in the Perth Test, his struggles outside the off stump — reminiscent of his struggles against Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad on the 2014 tour of England — stand out in sharp relief.

It is not unusual for a technical flaw to creep into a top batter’s game at any point. On the tour of Australia in 1980-81, the technically sound Sunil Gavaskar seemed to be uncertain where his off stump was and edged behind while being dismissed for 0, 10, 23, 5, 10 before making 70 in his final innings. Greg Chappell went through a similar run mid-career too. The key is knowing where your off stump is; doubts creep in otherwise.

The uncertainty feeds on itself. Kohli has been thrusting his bat out, failing to withdraw it in time or being served up deliveries that would have tested him at his best. Something similar is happening to Australia’s Steve Smith too. India have been attacking his leg stump and denying him the freedom to drive on the off.

The era of the Fabulous Four – Kohli, Smith, Joe Root and Ken Williamson – might be nearing its end. Root made a century in England’s recent win over New Zealand, in his 151st Test, while Williamson’s 93 and 61 in the previous Test indicated that half the greats who define contemporary batsmanship continue to be in business.

But the next generation is here and ready to take over. After Harry Brook’s centuries in New Zealand, Root called him “the best batsman in the world.” He is 25, and averages over 60 with a triple century already. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who turns 23 this month, is No. 4 in the rankings following his century in Perth. Interestingly, the top four are Root, Brook, Williamson, Jaiswal. You can read into that mix a change of guard.

This is not just a generational change, it is a change in culture too. Brook and Jaiswal represent the spirit of the times. Both are risk-takers and bat with a casual disregard for playing safe that lights up the sport itself. Rishabh Pant, older at 27, brought in this new culture. He struck the second delivery he faced in Test cricket for a six. The fearless manner in which he stepped out first ball to send Scott Boland screaming past cover in Adelaide could well be post-modern batting’s distinguishing shot.

The fearlessness is twofold – there is no fear of physical injury, and neither is there fear of failure. The word used most often to describe Pant’s style is “ridiculous”, but it’s said in genuine admiration, as if what he does is not easily understood or described. Brook often invites that description too.

The future of batting seems to be in the hands of these players, and others who cut their teeth in T20 cricket, determined to push the boundaries of the possible. Root, who emerged from Yorkshire severity, got to his century with flair, and a reverse ramp shot.

Correctness is no longer defined by the act itself – foot position, high elbow etc – but by the result. By the product rather than the process. This is part of the new culture.

For the most part, the Fabulous Four were focused on the process. Kohli is 36, Williamson the youngest is 34, each of the four has played over 100 Tests and scored over 9000 runs. They belong to the tail-end of the generation whose attack is based on sound defence. Increasingly, as you grow older, the product begins to matter more. A scratchy 70 trumps a delightful 25.

Pant, Brook, Jaiswal are ushering in the new era. Quite the most amazing statistic to emerge in recent years is this: before the start of England’s home season, their opener Ben Duckett had left the ball alone only 31 times of the 1,915 deliveries he faced. That’s a leave percentage of 1.62! Attack is the best form of defence. Is that the lesson for Kohli and Rohit Sharma?

Indian squad celebrate the victory in the first Border-Gavaskar Test match against Australia, in Perth.
| Photo Credit: ANI

It was a weekend of rain and runs for the Indians at Canberra. The warm-up fixture against the Prime Minister’s XI at the Manuka Oval was touted as the ideal base ahead of the second Test in Adelaide from Friday (December 6, 2024). A two-day tussle under lights and against the pink ball was also seen as a lens to understand how players were primed for the rest of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

In the end, damp skies washed out Saturday’s play while a kind sun and floodlights at night ensured a Sunday (December 1, 2024) contest with its facade of a limited overs skirmish but one that had the depth of a Test match. Among India’s leading stars, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and R. Ashwin, played no role while all the others had their turns either as a batter or bowler.

India won with ease and even tucked into the host’s courtesy and batted the full quota of 46 overs much after going past the winning tape. There were these little stories within perhaps a friendly battle. That K.L. Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal strode out as openers could be seen as a hat-tip to the combined form they revealed especially during their second outing in the first Test at Perth. But does that mean, a rejig is in order?

With Shubman Gill having recovered from an injury and batting well, he obviously slots in at number three, a position earlier strengthened by the broad willows of Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid. If the past is a yardstick, then maybe Rohit will continue teaming up with Jaiswal atop the batting tree and yet the Canberra sojourn and the skipper’s meagre three from 11 deliveries, does raise some questions.

The Mumbaikar, all fluid sixes and rapid yields in ODIs, has a lone fifty in his last 10 innings from Tests. To be fair, he did try to dig in on Sunday before chasing one outside the off-stump. Till then Rohit looked his part at the crease. He has always put team over self, and never worries about statistical judgements. It remains to be seen if in the twilight phase of his career, he would go back to the middle-order, counter the old ball and be well set to tackle the new cherry.

Perhaps, with Prithvi Shaw losing his way, in a post-Rohit stage, a Rahul-Jaiswal combine may do the opening honours unless Gill moves up again. There is enough strategy to chew upon for the Indian management over the next few days. That Rohit and Gill are back in the playing eleven with Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel making way, is the presumed reality.

Kohli’s unbeaten 100 at Perth is a good sign and if Rohit can join forces, India will flourish for the rest of the series. Pushed into the opening slot, Rohit had prospered in Tests, maybe he will still do that against a tough rival unless a middle-order foray is what he and the management are looking at for now.

India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal gestures as he leaves the field after losing his wicket on the third day of the first cricket test between Australia and India in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024
| Photo Credit: AP

Yashasvi Jaiswal speaks like the way he bats. There is an eagerness to respond quickly and move ahead. Often he nods his head while waiting for a question to conclude and then he replies in a direct manner. The centurion met the media at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday (November 24, 2024) evening and there was an air of quiet confidence about him.

The opener’s 161 set India on a strong platform in the first Test and Jaiswal was happy with his effort: “For me, all the centuries are amazing, but this will be special because I really wanted to do it. I always wanted to come to Australia and do well here. We all knew that the ball will bounce here and I prepared for it.”

Jaiswal was thrilled about batting in tandem with Virat Kohli and said: “Today, I was playing and running with him. It was a very special moment. I try to develop my own game by talking to senior players and by understanding how I can add certain things to my game. I still have a lot to learn.”

He was clear about his mindset too: “I am going to go and enjoy and be fearless. I will go and take a brave decision. I will try and do what is required for my team. It is amazing to play against such great bowlers.”

Asked about the six that got him his hundred, Jaiswal said: “I knew he (Josh Hazlewood) was going to bowl a bouncer and I was ready for that ball. Luckily, he did and I played that shot and I enjoyed it.”

The pitch area is covered with plastic sheets as it rains, ahead of the first test match between India and New Zealand 2024, at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium (KSCA), in Bengaluru on October 15, 2024.
| Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

Rain could disrupt proceedings in the first India-New Zealand Test which commences at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Heavy showers forced both teams to call off their training sessions on Tuesday. Play is likely to be interrupted in the first two days of the Test, at a minimum.

New Zealand will be wary regardless, as India recently showed that even a heavily truncated encounter cannot stop its march to victory.

Bangladesh learnt the hard way, going down in two days in the second Test at Kanpur earlier this month.

Poor record

The Kiwis must overcome a particularly poor record in India. The last Test win on these shores came all the way back in 1988 at Bombay, inspired by stellar shows from John Bracewell and Richard Hadlee. The 19 Tests that have followed have resulted in ten losses and nine draws. To make the task harder, key batter Kane Williamson is out for the first match due to a groin strain. Fast bowler Ben Sears, known to hurry batters with extra zip off the pitch, is also out injured. His replacement, uncapped Otago Volts bowler Jacob Duffy, will not be able to reach the city in time for start of play.

The visitor is expected to rely heavily on spinners Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips and Ajaz Patel to carry the bulk of the load.

A 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka last month cannot help confidence.

Sitting pretty

India, meanwhile, is sitting pretty on a six-match winning streak. A 3-0 sweep in this series, which will guarantee a spot in the World Test Championship final, serves as timely motivation.

If India can manage to secure early passage to the summit clash, it will considerably reduce the pressure when the side tours to Australia later this year for five Tests.

The rain and damp pitch could prompt India to feature three pacers in Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep. The trio is more than capable of turning it on in the absence of an injured Mohammed Shami.

Focus on Ashwin, Jadeja

Spinners R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who took 11 and nine wickets respectively in the Bangladesh series, will once again prove to be a handful.

On the batting front, Virat Kohli will welcome the chance to feature in his second home. Kohli will hold fond memories of scoring 103 and 51 n.o. against the same opposition at this venue in 2012, to hand India a hard-fought win.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who found form in the Bangladesh games, is capable of deflating the opposition in a single session. The young opener received high praise from his captain Rohit Sharma. “The guy has got real talent. He has got the game to play in all conditions. From what he has shown us in this brief period of time, you can bet on him and expect him to do wonders for the team. We have found a great player,” Rohit said.

By all accounts, India’s proud home record – the last series defeat came at the hands of England in 2012 – is set to continue.

Teams

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.

New Zealand: Tom Latham (captain), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Mark Chapman, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell (wk), Ajaz Patel, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, William O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy.

Match starts at 9.30 AM IST.

File photo of Yashasvi Jaiswal.
| Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain

India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal has emphasized on consistency as he focuses on red-ball cricket at the ongoing Duleep Trophy while preparing for the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh.

The 22-year-old, who has become a key player in India’s red-ball squad, scored 30 off 50 balls for India ‘B’ in their Duleep Trophy match against India ‘A’ in Bengaluru on Thursday (September 5, 2024).

“It’s a great opportunity whenever we have the chance to play the Duleep or Ranji Trophy. I’m really looking forward to that, and I hope I’ll enjoy my game. I’ll try my best,” he told JioCinema.

Looking ahead to India’s World Test Championship campaign, Jaiswal, who has played nine Tests since his debut, said, “Every match is important because of the World Test Championship. You have to make sure you give your best as every win counts.

“Any opportunity to play for India is incredible, and representing the country is the biggest motivation that I have.” “I have worked hard to keep up my form and continue to do so to ensure I maintain it. The more consistent I stay with my practice and preparation, my results will improve. I don’t overthink, I just need to prepare well and keep improving myself as a player. The more I repeat these steps, the better I’ll get.”

India are set to host Bangladesh, New Zealand, and England during the 2024-25 home season, starting with the series against Bangladesh on September 19.

“I think they’ve been playing well. It’ll be fun to match up with them. It’s fun to play Test matches regardless. I’m really looking forward to that,” Jaiswal said.