At the conclusion of the record 617-run Test series against England, Yashasvi Jaiswal was a player under stress. He saw what others had missed in that series: he had failed to capitalize on his last two opportunities in Indian colours ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad announcement. Scores of 37 and 57 were decent performances by all accounts, but for him, those were merely good starts, not the big scores he desired.
As the latest poster boy of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024, Jaiswal was relentlessly focused on “sirf runs banane hai” (just scoring runs). The franchise alleviated some pressure by easing his sponsorship commitments. Whether that freed him mentally remains Jaiswal’s secret, but with the bat, he transformed. Initially scratchy, desperate, and short of runs—quite unlike the flourishing player who had previously demolished attacks across all formats—he eventually found his groove seven innings into the tournament. Despite his team’s early success, Jaiswal knew he was in a race with many contenders but had few real openings. However, four months later, situations changed radically.
Opportunities opened up, and Jaiswal, along with Shubman Gill, stood first in line to claim those vacant spots. Just a day before India’s first T20I against Sri Lanka, newly-appointed captain Suryakumar Yadav emphasized that under his leadership, “only the engine has changed while the rest of the bogeys are still the same.” He communicated this philosophy to teammates, reflecting the continuity needed to maintain the practices yielding positive results over recent years.
Yadav’s assessment was intriguing for multiple reasons. Firstly, a new captain and coach were now at the helm. Early impressions showed notable changes, such as the practice of playing four frontline bowlers alongside part-time and all-round options in the XI—a strategy used successfully by Gautam Gambhir with Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders. Another trend from Gambhir was the insistence on maintaining a left-right batting combination through the top order.
Questions arose about how the “bogeys,” or players, remained the same when three veteran players, who had been mainstays in India’s T20I cricket, had retired. The first two “bogeys” changed, with Jaiswal and Gill slotting in for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The explosive power they demonstrated Saturday night during the powerplay validated Jaiswal’s feeling that he finally had a chance to push for inclusion in the Indian XI.
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Jaiswal set the tone from the first ball in Pallekele, striking a boundary off Dilshan Madhushanka. At the other end, Gill, aiming to bring more ‘intent’ to his game, adopted his unique style. He showcased a range of strokes—a mild punch through backward point, a lazy loft over mid-off, and a controlled whip over mid-on among others—each finding the boundary rope.
Gill faced temptations with length deliveries outside off-stump, inviting him to slash. He countered these with controlled punches. When bowlers adjusted their lines closer to his body, his timing and placement remained impeccable. Eventually, he was undone by a slower ball, but not before clearly demonstrating his “intent” through his adept touch.
Conversely, Jaiswal expressed his intent traditionally through powerful swings, dismantling Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana. In the first 35 balls, they powered India to 74 runs; both were dismissed shortly after. Their innings and partnership, while not solely decisive for the match, set a crucial tempo during the Powerplay—an essential task they are expected to shoulder going forward.
When Rohit and Kohli retired from the shortest format, several contenders vied for their spots. Four players performed admirably against Zimbabwe in a recent series. However, it was little surprise that the first chance to replace them went to Gill and Jaiswal, given their recent success and potential.
In this new era of India’s T20 cricket, early signs indicate that Gambhir supports his batters taking an aggressive approach, back by an additional cushioning in the line-up. The tempo has to be set from the top, a responsibility now entrusted to Gill and Jaiswal. After commendable performances in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, the duo has impressed early on, proving ready for this challenge.
Looking ahead, with a long route before the next major stop, the team management has ample options to explore if necessary. For now, though, Gill and Jaiswal, much like the team, can breathe a little easier knowing the train is still on track, and the new bogeys are well-oiled, running smoothly under pressure.