NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has heaped glowing praise on young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, comparing his impact at the top of the order to that of former batter Virender Sehwag.Live Score: India vs England 5th TestSpeaking on his YouTube channel after Jaiswal’s fifty on Day 2 of the fifth Test against England at The Oval, Sidhu said, “The way he played those cuts, the cover drive, and especially that stroke between mid-on and midwicket shows how quickly he gets into position. He has so much time.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Sidhu went on to make a bold comparison: “I can say that after Sunil Gavaskar, if any opener has come close to the impact of Virender Sehwag, it is Yashasvi Jaiswal. He has scored double hundreds and hundreds, and done so at a pace that gives bowlers no time to settle while putting his team in a winning position.”
Jaiswal, who brought up his fifty in just 44 balls after being dropped twice, showcased his aggressive flair even in bowler-friendly conditions. Sidhu acknowledged the chance he got but argued it was earned through dominance. “Some might say that he got a life because a catch was dropped, but the ball was traveling like a bullet. That slash had serious power,” he said.
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Sidhu also highlighted Jaiswal’s technical strengths: “His special quality is the back-and-across movement, which gives him that little extra time. Then he plays with complete flow, fully aware that he could get out anytime in such conditions.”He further added, “When your average remains near or above 50 even after 20 to 30 Test matches, you are considered a great player.”Jaiswal’s blend of aggression and composure, Sidhu believes, is turning him into an impactful opener.
