Decoding Yashasvi Jaiswal's misery against SA left-arm pacers in Tests
What's the story
India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed cheaply in the second innings of the ongoing Test match against South Africa in Guwahati. The left-handed batsman scored just 13 runs before being caught behind by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne off a delivery from Marco Jansen. The incident happened in the seventh over of India's run chase, leaving Jaiswal visibly disappointed as he walked off the field. Here we dissect Jaiswal's struggles against South African left-arm pacers in Tests.
Struggles
Third dismissal against Jansen
Jansen, the tall and lanky left-arm pacer, trapped Jaiswal thrice across four innings in the ongoing series. The batter managed just 34 runs in this battle at 11.33, as per ESPNcricinfo. In India's 2023-24 tour of South Africa, Nandre Burger, another left-arm pacer from South Africa, dismissed Jaiswal three times across four innings. Hence, Jaiswal has fallen to left-arm pacers six times across eight innings against SA. He averages a poor 16.62 against them, having scored just 133 runs.
Information
Overall numbers against left-arm pacers
Jaiswal has now been dismissed nine times across 18 innings against these pacers as his average plummets to a paltry 22.22 in this regard, as per ESPNcricinfo. Australia's Mitchell Starc is another left-arm pacer to have troubled him, trapping Jaiswal thrice across 10 innings.
Series stats
Jaiswal's performance in the Test series
Jaiswal's performance in the ongoing Test series has been below par, except for his 58-run knock in the first innings of the ongoing game. His other scores include a duck and 12 runs in the first Test, and today's 13 runs. Notably, Team South Africa has set a massive target of 549 runs for India to chase down in this match.
Summmary
How did the game pan out?
Batting first, South Africa scored 489/10 in their first innings with Senuran Muthusamy and Jansen scoring 109 and 93 runs, respectively. In response, India was bowled out for just 201/10 in their first innings. South Africa declared their second innings at 260/5, setting a mammoth target of 549 runs for India. Tristan Stubbs was the top scorer with a knock of 94. Having lost Jaiswal cheaply, India are staring at a massive series defeat.
Career
Jaiswal completes 2,500 runs in Tests
Meanwhile, Jaiswal completed 2,500 Test runs during his latest knock. Across 28 Tests, Jaiswal has raced to 2,511 runs at an average of 49.23. The 58 in the ongoing game was Jaiswal's 13th fifty in Test cricket. He also owns seven tons. His best score in Test cricket is an unbeaten 214 versus England. Jaiswal also holds the record for smashing the most Test sixes in a calendar year, 34 in 2024.