"The six he hit off Glenn Phillips was the shot of the match" - Aakash Chopra lauds Yashasvi Jaiswal's knock in IND vs NZ 2024 2nd Test
Aakash Chopra has lauded Yashasvi Jaiswal for playing a fighting knock in India's second innings of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. He particularly appreciated a six the left-handed opener hit over extra cover off Glenn Phillips.
Jaiswal smashed 77 off 65 in India's second-innings total of 245 on Saturday, October 26. His knock went in vain, though, as the hosts lost by 113 runs to concede an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra praised Jaiswal's game against spin, especially his six against Phillips.
"The thought process was important. He came with the mindset to attack. The good thing with Yashasvi Jaiswal is that the way he played spin in the fourth innings on a slightly turning pitch here, he would have played the same way had it been the first innings on a flat pitch in Rajkot because this is his way of scoring runs against spin," he said.
"So Yashasvi was just being himself. What he did against fast bowling, hit a six in the first over, that was something different. Southee might not have been ready for the way he thrashed him. However, he has been playing like this only against spin. He has all the skills against spin. I feel the six he hit off Glenn Phillips was the shot of the match," the former India opener added.
Jaiswal hit Tim Southee for a six over deep square leg off the second ball of India's innings. He subsequently hit Mitchell Santner for a straight maximum before smashing Phillips over extra cover for his third and final six.
"When Santner came to bowl, he didn't allow him to bowl into the rough that is there outside the off-stump for a left-hander" - Parthiv Patel on Yashasvi Jaiswal
In the same discussion, Parthiv Patel noted that Yashasvi Jaiswal was aggressive from the outset and didn't allow Mitchell Santner to bowl into the rough.
"You immediately saw the change in approach because you saw a big shot off the second ball itself. After that, he kept playing attacking shots. He was looking to use his feet against both fast bowlers and spinners.
"When Santner came to bowl, he didn't allow him to bowl into the rough that is there outside the off-stump for a left-hander," he said.
The former India wicketkeeper-batter praised the youngster for primarily playing with the spin.
"He used his feet and played the sweeps, but he played everything with the spin. The shot he hit off Glenn Phillips was also with the spin over cover.
"When you play on turning wickets, you need to minimize your percentage of getting out. If you play against the spin, the chances of getting out increase," Patel observed.
Patel pointed out that Shubman Gill fell prey to Santner because he played against the spin. The right-handed batter tried to play the left-arm spinner on the leg side but only managed an edge to Daryl Mitchell at slip.