As the Test series between India and England moves towards a gripping finale in the scenic cricket ground of Dharamsala, one player in particular stands on the cusp of cricketing greatness. Yashasvi Jaiswal, a young cricketing sensation, has been rewriting the history books with his astounding performances, and the series finale presents him with an opportunity to etch his name even deeper into the annals of the sport.
The 22-year-old left-handed batsman’s journey since his Test debut in the Caribbean has been nothing short of a fairy tale. In a series that has already become a personal highlight for Jaiswal, his bat has spoken with authority, amassing 655 runs, the highest tally by an Indian left-hander in a single Test series. His prowess was on full display when he scored a magnificent double hundred in the third Test, making him the first Indian to turn his initial three centuries into scores surpassing 150. With 23 sixes to his name in the series, Jaiswal holds the world record for the most sixes in a single Test series, and he is far from done.
As Jaiswal strides to the crease in Dharamsala, he needs a solitary run to overtake Virat Kohli as the Indian with the most runs in a single Test series against England. With one more run, the distinction will be solely his. Moreover, if the young maestro can craft an innings of 98 runs, he will surpass England’s Graham Gooch as the top run-scorer in IND vs ENG Test series history—a record Gooch established back in 1990 with an astonishing 752 runs against India.
Not content with chasing just one or two milestones, Jaiswal has his eyes set on a collection of records. He requires only 29 runs to reach 1,000 runs in Test cricket—an impressive feat that he has the opportunity to accomplish in the fewest number of Test matches by an Indian player. While Vinod Kambli currently holds the Indian records for the fastest to 1,000 runs, both in terms of innings and matches played, Jaiswal’s rapid accumulation of runs means he is set to overtake Kambli in terms of matches if he can manage this in Dharamsala’s encounter.
The record books might need to be rewritten yet again if Jaiswal can add another 120 runs to his series tally, which would make him the highest run-scorer in a single Test series for India—a record held by none other than the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 774 runs against the West Indies in the 1970/71 series.
In the realm of explosive batting, Jaiswal, who already broke Virender Sehwag’s record for the most sixes hit by an Indian in a calendar year, now sets his sights on the all-time record for the most sixes in a single year. He requires 11 towering sixes to surpass Brendon McCullum’s staggering tally of 33 maximums, set in 2014.
Lastly, if Jaiswal’s devastating form with the bat sees him add two more centuries in this final Test against England, he will achieve the joint-most tons scored by a batter against England in a single series. This elite club currently includes the immortal Sir Don Bradman and the formidable George Headley.
The stage is set for a showdown in the serene hills of Dharamsala, where history beckons the young Indian prodigy. As the cricket world watches with baited breath, Yashasvi Jaiswal could very well rise from a promising talent to a legendary figure immortalized through his unparalleled achievements on the cricket field.
