Yashasvi Jaiswal can be India's David Warner in BGT 2024-25: Cheteshwar Pujara

Veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara has claimed that the young Yashasvi Jaiswal could be one of India's most crucial weapons in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, comparing the southpaw to Australia's legendary opener David Warner.

In just 14 Test matches, Jaiswal has managed to score 1407 runs at an average of 56.28, with three centuries and eight fifties to his name. While he has dominated in home conditions, scoring 1091 runs at an average of 60.61, the upcoming series in Australia is set to test him more.

"Yashasvi is probably one of the most talented cricketers India has produced. And I am very confident that even going forward, I know that he has a lot to prove, especially playing overseas. But he will play a key role in this particular series. If we have to win the series, his role is the most important one," Pujara said on Star Sports Press Room.

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He has a long way to go for the Indian team across formats: Cheteshwar Pujara

The batter compared the batting styles of Jaiswal and Warner, mentioning their aggressive intent and potential to be a game-changer and putting their team in a comfortable position.

"He is someone who is an aggressive player. He can play a role like what David Warner used to do for the Australian team. For us, I think his batting will be very important. Even in India, when we were losing the series, when he made runs, we were in a strong position," Pujara added.

Pujara emphasised Jaiswal's mental state and preparation, describing him as someone who prepares really well and loves batting. These qualities are crucial for success in the challenging Australian conditions, where technical skill and mental strength are the most important things.

"Being an opening player, he holds the key for the Indian batting lineup. I am sure that he will be successful. Obviously, there will be challenges throughout this series, but he is mentally tough. He prepares really, really well. He hits a number of balls and loves batting. I really feel that he has a long way to go for the Indian team across formats—not just in the Test format but across all formats. I think he will be very successful over time,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the youngster is in good form as he recently scored a fifty in the intra-squad match ahead of the first Test set to take place in Perth's Optus stadium, starting from November 22.