Follow UsRohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are done playing T20 cricket for India and the likes of Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are rapidly starting to take over. In the ongoing T20I series in Zimbabwe, Abhishek smashed a stunning century, while Gill has scores of 66 and 58* respectively in the last two encounters.
Jaiswal, who was part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad but didn’t play a single game, joined the series after the first two games. The left-hander scored 36 in the third T20I and followed it up with a blistering 53-ball 93* in the fourth T20I. Jaiswal and Gill put on an unbeaten opening stand of 156 and thrashed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
"I think what they have done for Indian cricket is just incredible and being a part of that dressing room is a blessing. We (him and Gill) are trying to take it match-by-match and one day at a time, focusing on the process," said Jaiswal after the game.
"Every time you talk to Rohit bhai or Virat bhaiya, I get a lot of experience, enjoy talking to them and learning from them. It does help to control emotions a lot and read the game better as there are different situations on the ground.”
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Talking about his no-nonsense approach, Jaiswal said: "I think it (batting approach) depends on the wicket and the bowling also and where I want to play because if there's a lot of bounce I try to play my shots - the cut and the pull. If the wicket is not like that, I just try to hit hard and straight. I always keep trying and challenge myself to play different, different shots.
"I think it's not easy and I work hard on my practice, try to prepare a lot, and try to execute and express myself and enjoy the game. My mindset is simple. If I have to take someone (a bowler) on, I will take him on and keep believing that I can do it.”
Jaiswal has also been consistently working on his fitness and power game. "I think I'm working on my body consistently. I work a lot on my legs and core and scapula if I want to hit. Consistency is really important; it's so easy to say but it's hard to it, I think. I'm trying my best every single day.
"I think I really enjoyed [batting] today. The wicket was pretty good and I had some plans for different bowlers and I was just trying to play all my shots where I can play and I really enjoyed today's innings."
Reflecting on his rapid rise in cricket, Jaiswal said: “To be honest, a lot of things happened in my life. I am really enjoying it. I just try to take one day at a time and make sure I enjoy the moment which is very important. Everything else is in God's hands and whatever he gives, I will take it.”
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