Yashasvi Jaiswal
Irani Trophy match is being played in Gwalior. This time the challenge in front of Rest of India is Ranji champion Madhya Pradesh. Rest of India captain Mayank Agarwal disappointed on the first day and returned to the pavilion after scoring just 2 runs. But then Yashasvi Jaiswal’s double century and his 371-run partnership for the second wicket with opener Abhimanyu Easwaran helped Rest of India to 381 for three on the first day on Wednesday. Jaiswal scored 213 runs on a batting-friendly pitch, his eighth century in his first-class career. Also, he became the 10th batsman to score a double century in the Irani Trophy.
The Mumbai batsman played 259 balls and hit 30 fours and three sixes before returning to the pavilion in the final session of the day. Apart from him, Easwaran, playing for Bengal, scored 17 fours and two sixes in his innings of 154 off 240 balls. This was Easwaran’s 22nd century in first-class cricket. Rest of India captain Mayank Agarwal won the toss and decided to bat first. Agarwal was expected to make a strong case for a comeback in the Indian team by playing a big innings here, but he scored only two runs in the third over, caught by wicketkeeper Himanshu Mantri off the bowling of Avesh Khan (2 for 51). Sitting
Easwaran and Jaiswal stake claim for Team India
Ishwaran and Jaiswal handled the responsibility well from here. Both of them did not let the wicket fall for almost 82 overs and meanwhile scored runs easily. In front of these two, both the main spinners of Madhya Pradesh, off-spinner Saransh Jain and left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya did not work. Jaiswal and Easwaran strengthened their claim for a place in the Indian team with these innings. Both these batsmen have played some fine innings this season, due to which they are being considered as contenders for a place in the national team. Yashasvi has been a consistent performer, looking at his statistics, he has scored 1701 runs in 25 first class innings at an average of 77.31 including eight centuries. At present, after Sarfaraz Khan, if there is any other contender to join Team India, it is Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Madhya Pradesh heaved a sigh of relief by dismissing both of them in consecutive balls in the last hour of the day. Fast bowler Avesh Khan broke the partnership in the 85th over of the day by bowling Jaiswal on a good length ball. On the next ball, Easwaran was also run out on a direct throw from Saransh Jain in an attempt to steal a quick run. Baba Indrajit was playing on three runs till stumps on the first day while Saurabh Kumar is yet to open his account. Apart from the runout for Madhya Pradesh, both the wickets have been taken by Avesh Khan.