Yashasvi Jaiswal made a sensational debut against the West Indies, leaving a lasting impression with a magnificent century in his first test match. Scoring an impressive 171 runs in the opening innings, Jaiswal displayed remarkable intent, hitting 16 boundaries and a six. His extraordinary performance has raised concerns for three prominent Indian batsmen’s future.
KL Rahul
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KL Rahul, the star batsman, currently sidelined due to injury, faces tough competition for his spot after explosive debut by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rahul’s recent form has been inconsistent, and questions have been raised about his selection, especially after disappointing performances in the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup last year.
He is currently making preparations for finding his place again into the team but it is unlikely that he will get place in the top order. Rahul played 47 test matches for India and scored 2642 runs at at average of 34. With Shubman Gill already in line for succession, Rahul might feel that he career in test cricket has already seen its end.
Mayank Agarwal
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Mayank Agarwal, a key Test opener for India, has been overlooked again by the BCCI during the West Indies tour. Although he remains part of the Test squad, the competition is fierce, and Jaiswal’s arrival has added further complexity to Agarwal’s chances.
Agarwal had an impressive start of his test career with couple of half centuries followed by big double ton against South Africa at Vizag. However, his recent form hasn’t been convincing. Agarwal played 21 test matches for India and scored 1488 runs at an average of 41. Despite being a terrific player against spin, Agrawal has had issues with moving ball.
Cheteshwar Pujara
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Cheteshwar Pujara, the backbone of India’s Test cricket, has been left out of the West Indies tour, possibly due to his underwhelming performance in the WTC Final against England. Despite high expectations, Pujara couldn’t deliver a significant innings in the crucial match, which might have influenced the management’s decision to exclude him from the tour.
Now, Pujara’s place is taken by Virat Kohli who is new number 3 for Indian cricket team. While BCCI is trying to inject some youth in the line-up, it is unlikely that Pujara will get chances in away tests anymore. Pujara has played 103 test matches for India and scored 7195 runs at an average of 43.60.
With Yashasvi Jaiswal’s explosive entry into Test cricket, Pujara’s place in the playing XI appears uncertain, and he might find himself warming the bench in the future. Many a greats are calling him next future star of Indian cricket, however, the real test will come against established teams such as Australia and England where he will be desperate to prove himself.
While the West Indies tour has brought excitement with Jaiswal’s sensational debut, it has also raised concerns for the established Indian batsmen, leaving them eager to prove their worth and secure their positions in the Test team.