Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal by Mitchell Starc on day three of the third Test at the Gabba. Gavaskar felt the shot was unsuitable for an opener, especially considering Australia’s substantial first innings total of 445.
Jaiswal was expected to provide India with a solid start alongside KL Rahul. However, he was dismissed for just four runs on the second ball of the innings, caught by Mitchell Marsh at square leg.
“It’s not the best of shots. You are facing 445 runs, then I think it’s important for you to get your eye in. It wasn’t even a half volley, and you have tried to flick that ball away, and it’s a simple catch. Very good field placement and very good captaincy by Pat Cummins for sure. But that’s not the best of shots that you expect from an opening bat, particularly when your opposition has got 445. Your job now for that one hour was to try and stay at the crease. Jaiswal, very very disappointing,” said Gavaskar on ABC Sport.
This marked the third instance in the series where Starc dismissed Jaiswal. Gavaskar questioned Jaiswal’s approach, emphasizing the need for practicality, especially against the new ball.
“It’s just all very well to be positive. But you also gotta be practical, and when the ball is new. It’s the first over; you can’t be looking to score 25 runs off the first over. It wasn’t even a half volley. I can understand if it was a half volley; sometimes you are not able to keep it along the ground. It was a length ball, you were never going to be able to keep that ball down,” added Gavaskar.
Prior to India’s innings, Jaiswal was observed practicing his shots in the outfield. During this practice session, one of his drives struck a Cricket Australia videographer, for which Jaiswal promptly apologized.
Michael Vaughan, former England captain, commented on Fox Sports about Jaiswal’s practice session and his subsequent dismissal. He noted the contrast between Jaiswal’s controlled shot in practice and the aerial shot that led to his dismissal in the match.
“Five minutes before Jaiswal got out, this is the shot he practiced that whip through mid-wicket, a wonderful shot and good balance. And then you go into the match and it’s the same shot but he goes aerial, just flicks it. It was the pressure of the game, in practice it’s perfect,” stated former England captain Michael Vaughan on Fox Sports.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri responded to Vaughan’s observation, questioning Jaiswal’s shot selection given the field placement.
“Can you imagine the catch would be there? The man just in front of square, acres of space on the on side and Jaiswal hits it straight to the fielder.”
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