Jaiswal Shines: Mastering the Offside to Outsmart West Indies Pace Attack

Yashasvi Jaiswal showcased his skill and determination by slicing Jayden Seales through backward point for consecutive boundaries in the first over after lunch, reaching his half-century on day one of the second Test against the West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday.

This moment held significance beyond just achieving this milestone.

With Shubman Gill opting to bat after winning the toss, Jaiswal knew he had a task ahead. In Ahmedabad, his attempt to slash a ball outside off, bowled by Seales, ended in a catch behind, dismissing him for 36 on a day when three Indian batters scored centuries. Adding to his frustration was a previous edge against Justin Greaves that narrowly cleared gully.

“In the last match, he felt he missed out on taking advantage of the initial phase,” revealed batting coach Sitanshu Kotak following the day’s play in New Delhi.

Since the commencement of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November 2024, Jaiswal has been dismissed eight times while attempting shots outside off against pacers. His tendency to play with hard hands in this area has been costly. Previously, he avoided nearly one-third of such deliveries, but over the past year, this has decreased to 27 percent.

His focus on opening his blade for these shots has slightly increased his success rate behind square on the off-side. The percentage of outside-off deliveries he has played through third man has risen to 52 percent since November 2024, compared to his career average of 47 percent. Yet, this minor improvement has come at a significant cost, as teams have strategically trapped him into playing square and caught him in the cordon.

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“You’ve got to bowl the right length, around off-stump. Keep doing that and wait for him to make a mistake. Once he gets through that initial half-hour, he’s in complete control,” former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara commented during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy broadcast earlier this year.

Seales executed his plan effectively on Friday morning, delivering over half his bowls in this challenging zone. But Jaiswal was prepared, neutralizing the attack by leaving deliveries. Despite Seales bowling from over the wicket to create a tempting angle, Jaiswal’s resolve remained firm.

An attempt at a drive on a fuller delivery did beat Jaiswal, but it served to remind him of his strategy. His task was eased somewhat by Justin Greaves and Anderson Phillip, who misdirected their deliveries towards the stumps and down leg.

“We all know that he is very aggressive and that he likes to score runs quickly. His adaptation to the wicket, selection of shots, and understanding of bounce and pace were outstanding,” remarked Kotak.

“For me, the most important thing was his determination. Even without being overly aggressive, he ended the day on 173. This showcases his excellent batting. When choosing shot selections square of the wicket, he, like any player at this level, will obviously assess conditions, the wicket, and bounce, then target key areas,” explained Kotak.

After patiently biding his time, Jaiswal began hitting his shots as the ball softened and the pacers lost some bite off the surface. By day’s end, he remained unbeaten on 173, with seven boundaries through third man. He edged only two from the 44 deliveries outside off throughout the day, and that only occurred during the day’s final moments when he attempted to capitalize on fatigue-induced lapses from the pacers, resulting in a few play-and-miss scenarios.

In that pivotal moment, the 29th over, when Jaiswal struck Seales past point for two boundaries to reach his fifty, he not only celebrated a quiet victory but also a triumph over his natural instincts—something he has consistently achieved throughout his career.

Published on Oct 10, 2025