Mumbai, Maharashtra – July 24, 2025 – Former Indian cricketer and JioStar expert Sanjay Manjrekar has lauded opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal for his impressive performances in Test cricket outside Asia. Manjrekar highlighted Jaiswal’s ability to play the ball late, his decisive footwork, and his immense hunger for runs as key factors contributing to his success, particularly in challenging SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) conditions.
Following a relatively quiet outing at Lord’s, Jaiswal returned to form with a solid 58 runs off 107 deliveries in the first innings of the fourth Manchester Test. His knock showcased a perfect blend of control and aggression.
Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live,’ Manjrekar discussed Jaiswal’s evolution as a Test batter since his debut in 2023 against West Indies, where he scored a massive 171. “In the past, you would say some Indian batters flattered to deceive because of flat home pitches. But now, when a young batter puts together a strong Test run, you know Jaiswal has done it across tough conditions. South Africa was his first overseas tour — arguably the hardest. He’ll do better next time. What stands out is how late he plays the ball, how decisively he moves on the front and back foot, and his hunger for Test success,” Manjrekar stated.
After a successful tour of the West Indies, where he accumulated 266 runs in three innings with a century and a half-century, Jaiswal faced his first major overseas challenge in South Africa. Despite brief flashes of promise, he struggled to make a significant impact, scoring just 50 runs in four innings with a best of 28.
However, Jaiswal rebounded with immense success at home, especially against England, where he hammered 712 runs in nine innings across four Tests, including two double centuries and three fifties. With 1,091 runs in 10 home Tests at an average of 60.61 (including two centuries and seven fifties), Jaiswal entered the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia with high expectations. The Australian media even hailed him as the “heir to the throne” of legendary Virat Kohli.
During the Australia series, his verbal and cricketing exchanges with veteran pacer Mitchell Starc garnered significant attention, surprising many with his audacity and self-belief. He topped India’s run-charts in that series and was the second-highest run-getter overall, with 391 runs in 10 innings at an average of 43.44, highlighted by a marathon 161 at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Jaiswal continued his overseas success with a century on his first Test appearance on English soil at Leeds in the first innings. So far in the ongoing series, he is the seventh-highest run-getter with 291 runs in seven innings at an average of 41.57, including one century and two fifties. His best score is 101.
The young opener’s away record is steadily building into something truly phenomenal, having already amassed 998 runs in 13 Tests and 24 innings at an average of 43.39, with three centuries and five fifties. His highest score away from home remains 171.
Manjrekar also praised the 94-run opening stand between KL Rahul (46 off 98 balls) and Jaiswal on Day one of the Manchester Test, commending their “excellent defensive technique and strong minds.”
“India have always struggled to find a consistent opening pair in overseas conditions, but they now seem to have one. A left-right combination that scores hundreds and looks dependable — that’s rare. You can expect consistency from this pair, and that is significant,” he added.
Assessing the overall performance on Day one, Manjrekar declared that the day belonged to India. He noted that the batting display served as a strong statement to critics who still believed this young Indian lineup could only score on flatter surfaces.
“These were typical English conditions with a much-improved bowling attack — Ben Stokes bowled more overs, Liam Dawson was an upgrade over Shoaib Bashir, and Jofra Archer added edge to the line-up. For India to finish at 264/4 under those conditions — that is another solid batting display. Thankfully, Rishabh Pant managed to get some bat on the ball before retiring hurt. Hopefully, he will return to bat on Day 2,” Manjrekar concluded.
At stumps on Day one, Team India reached 264/4, with Shardul Thakur (19*) and Ravindra Jadeja (16*) at the crease. Rishabh Pant’s retirement hurt at 37 due to a foot injury was a significant blow for India. Half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan (61 off 151 balls) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (58 off 107 balls) were the day’s biggest contributions. England skipper Ben Stokes (2/47) was the pick of the bowlers, dismissing Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan.