Abhishek Nayar praises Jaiswal's 'genius' after Thiruvananthapuram's powerplay feast

Abhishek Nayar showered accolades on Yashasvi Jaiswal for his scintillating fifty against Australia in the second T20I on November 26. Jaiswal's historic display at Thiruvananthapuram's Greenfield International Stadium saw him carve his name in the annals of cricket, unleashing a blistering half-century within the powerplay. The young Indian batter's swift innings etched a remarkable entry in the record books.

Jaiswal, marking only the third Indian in T20I history alongside KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, clinched this milestone. Nayar hailed his genius, noting his astuteness in navigating a tough initial phase and seizing momentum when Maxwell was introduced. The former cricketer praised the India opener's two-dimensional approach, strategically varying pace and utilising it to perfection during his exceptional innings in the second T20I. 

“Today was a genius knock because he felt that the first two overs weren’t conducive for batting. When Maxwell came in to bowl, that’s when he kind of put his foot on the pedal. There was a two-dimensional Yashasvi Jaiswal today where he created pace and used pace brilliantly. You could see him play towards third man, playing square of the wicket and when required, getting the power through the on side through mid-wicket. So, all in all, a very controlled, yet aggressive innings from Jaiswal,” said Nayar speaking to JioCinema.

Jaiswal propels India’s onslaught in powerplay

The 21-year-old's explosive beginning featured a flurry of boundaries, propelling him to 53 runs from a mere 25 deliveries. His innings sparkled with nine fours and two sixes, showcasing his aggressive batting prowess and knack for overpowering the bowlers. In a standout moment, he unleashed an onslaught on Australia pacer Sean Abbott, notching an impressive 24 runs through three consecutive boundaries followed by two powerful sixes in a single over.

Despite the pitch's slow bounce, the Uttar Pradesh batter remained unfazed, capitalising on loose Australian bowling that consistently offered him width to unleash his shots. His rapid fifty arrived in 24 balls, playing a pivotal role in India's formidable powerplay score of 77 runs, their highest against Australia in T20Is. India clinched a commanding 44-run victory, securing a 2-0 lead in the series.