At the conclusion of the record 617-run Test series against England, Yashasvi Jaiswal found himself under an immense amount of stress. He saw what others missed in that series – that he had failed to leverage the last two opportunities he had to make a significant impact in Indian colours before the team for the 2024 T20 World Cup was announced. With scores of 37 and 57, which were decent by all accounts, Jaiswal knew those were merely good starts that didn’t convert into big performances.
During IPL 2024, the Rajasthan Royals’ latest poster boy consistently emphasized “sirf runs banane hai,” meaning “just make runs.” The franchise eased his burden by reducing his sponsorship commitments, yet whether he was mentally free from that pressure is a personal matter for him. On the field, however, he was a different player – one who seemed scratchy, desperate, and short of runs. This was a far cry from the free-flowing bat swing that had dominated attacks across various formats in the preceding year. Despite the team’s early success, it took Jaiswal seven innings to rediscover his groove.
Jaiswal was part of a competitive race for a spot in the team with many contenders but no clear openings. Four months later, the dynamics changed drastically. New opportunities emerged, and he, along with Shubman Gill, got the first chance to secure the vacant spots.
The day before India’s first T20I against Sri Lanka, the newly-appointed captain, Suryakumar Yadav, stated that under the new leadership, “only the engine has changed; the rest of the bogeys are still the same.” This message reinforced to his teammates, who had been performing well in the shortest format over recent years, that while coaching staff might come and go, they should continue the practices that had consistently brought them success.
This assessment was intriguing for several reasons. Firstly, despite having a new captain and coach at the helm, initial impressions indicated notable changes. For starters, the practice of playing four frontline bowlers along with the part-time and all-round options in the XI, a strategy employed by Gautam Gambhir during his successful stints with the Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders, is now being used by his predecessors at India. Added to this was another trend from Gambhir’s past – the insistence on maintaining a left-right combination throughout the top eight.
However, a big question looms: how do the bogeys remain the same when three veteran players, stalwarts of India’s T20I cricket, have retired?
The top two slots on that proverbial train have already changed, with Jaiswal and Gill stepping in for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The explosive power demonstrated on Saturday night in the powerplay is precisely why Jaiswal believed he had a chance to assert himself in the Indian XI, despite the odds seeming slim.
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Jaiswal made his intentions clear right from the first ball in Pallekele, pulling Dilshan Madhushanka for a boundary. At the other end, Gill, aiming to bring more ‘intent’ to his game, was cruising in his unique style. A gentle punch caressed through backward point, a lazy loft over mid-off, a nonchalant whip over mid-on, a gentle rolling of the wrist through square leg, and a couple of opening the face of the bat – all resulting in boundaries.
Gill effectively countered the bait of length deliveries outside off with controlled punches. When the bowlers adjusted their line and brought it closer to his body, his timing and placement remained impeccable. He was eventually undone by a slower ball, which he mistimed, but by then he had demonstrated his concept of ‘intent’ with elegant deftness.
Conversely, Jaiswal showcased that intent more conventionally through powerful swings of the bat, dismantling Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana. Within the first 35 balls of the innings, they had catapulted India to 74 runs. However, they were both dismissed off the next two balls.
Though their innings and partnership might not have been decisive for the outcome of the contest, the tempo they set during the Powerplay provided a solid foundation for the middle order. This responsibility is what they will be expected to shoulder moving forward.
As Rohit and Kohli retired from the shortest format, backups and other potential replacements eagerly awaited their chance. Even though four players excelled against Zimbabwe in a recent tour, it was no surprise that Gill and Jaiswal received the first opportunity to step in.
In this new era of India’s T20 cricket, the early indications suggest that Gambhir will back his batters to adopt an aggressive approach, bolstered by an extra cushion in the lineup. The tempo needs to be set from the top of the order, and the trust has now been placed in Gill and Jaiswal to lead in this regard.
After a few notable performances in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, the duo has left a strong impression that they are ready for the challenge. With a long journey ahead to the next major tournament, including ample options for the team management to consider, for now, Gill and Jaiswal – much like the team – can breathe a sigh of relief. The train is still on track, and the new bogeys are running smoothly under pressure.