India tour of Australia: Brian Lara backs Yashasvi Jaiswal to shine Down Under

West Indies legend Brian Lara praised Yashasvi Jaiswal's consistency and predicted the young Indian batter would play a crucial role during India's upcoming Test series against Australia, despite his limited experience on challenging Australian pitches.

In Short

• Yashasvi scored 1,217 runs in 11 Tests since debuting in 2023
• Lara expressed confidence in Jaiswal despite his limited overseas experience.
• Lara praised Jaiswal's technique and adaptability in Tests

West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara has showered praise on India’s young batting sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal, predicting that he will play a crucial role in India’s upcoming tour of Australia. Speculation about the probable Indian squad traveling to Australia is at an all-time high, and one name that appears to be a certainty for the Test squad is Jaiswal, thanks to his remarkable consistency in Test cricket.

Lara noted that despite Jaiswal’s limited experience on pitches like those in Australia, the young batsman’s technique and determination will help him shine with the bat. Since his Test debut in 2023, Yashasvi Jaiswal has enjoyed a phenomenal start to his career, amassing 1,217 runs in 11 matches, which included three centuries, two of which were double centuries. His ability to adapt and score in challenging conditions has made him a standout performer for India.

"He has got the ability to play in any conditions. I saw him in the Caribbean. Obviously, the pitches in Australia are slightly different, but if you take that sort of strength that you have, you're going to play good cricket in any conditions...I expect to see him do well," Lara told PTI.

"Jaiswal and Abhishek Sharma. First of all, they're left-handers. They're very young. They play the game in a style, very attacking and very stylish," Lara added.

Though Jaiswal has only played two overseas Tests in the Caribbean and two in South Africa, he has already showcased his potential. While he impressed on the Caribbean tracks, the South African conditions posed some challenges. However, Lara believes that the 23-year-old’s maturity and adaptability will allow him to overcome any hurdles he faces on Australian soil.

Jaiswal’s inclusion in the squad for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia seems inevitable. If selected, his performance at the top of India’s batting order will be one of the key aspects to watch, particularly on the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia. The opening stand could be crucial in determining India’s fortunes, and with Jaiswal in excellent form, he is expected to be a vital contributor to the team’s success in the upcoming series.