The Indian cricket team is gearing up for their upcoming five-match Test series against England, set to kick off on June 20. Ahead of this crucial series, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s form has raised concerns. Jaiswal’s recent performances in practice matches against England Lions have been underwhelming, with scores of 24, 64, 17, and 5 in his last four innings.
This lackluster performance has put his spot in the playing eleven under scrutiny, especially with strong alternatives available. Former Indian cricketer and current team mentor Gautam Gambhir has had a heart-to-heart conversation with Jaiswal to address his batting concerns.
The upcoming series is significant for Team India, marking their first Test series without veterans Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin. This presents a golden opportunity for the younger players to prove themselves. However, Jaiswal’s struggles may impact the team’s overall performance.
According to media reports, Gambhir has had an in-depth discussion with Jaiswal during the team’s training sessions in England. The conversation focused on Jaiswal’s batting technique and mental toughness. This exchange is believed to have centered around rectifying technical flaws and strengthening Jaiswal’s mindset.
Team India is scheduled to play an intra-squad practice match against India A starting Friday, which will be the final opportunity for players to stake their claim for a spot in the playing eleven. Jaiswal faces stiff competition from other players, including India A captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has scored two consecutive half-centuries in practice matches, and KL Rahul, who has notched a century and a half-century against India A.
Despite his current struggles, Jaiswal has a proven track record, having scored 712 runs in the previous home Test series against England, including two centuries and three half-centuries. However, his inability to adapt to English pitches has raised concerns about his spot in the team. If Jaiswal fails to deliver in the next practice match, he may find himself omitted from the playing eleven, as the team is cautious about taking risks on this challenging tour.