Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has heaped praise on Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, predicting a remarkable future for the 22-year-old, with the potential to score “over 40 Test centuries” and rewrite the record books. Maxwell’s comments come after Jaiswal’s match-winning performance in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth’s Optus Stadium, where he scored a brilliant 161 in the second innings.
Jaiswal’s Stellar Comeback
Jaiswal, who was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, showcased his resilience and skill by crafting a calculated and aggressive knock against a world-class Australian bowling attack. His 161-run innings was instrumental in setting up India’s commanding 295-run victory in the series opener.
Reflecting on Jaiswal’s career progression, Maxwell recalled their time together in the IPL, where Jaiswal emerged as a teenage prodigy. He also highlighted Jaiswal’s exceptional performance in this year’s home Test series against England, where the young opener scored 712 runs in five matches at an average of 89.00. This included two double centuries and a top score of 214*.
Maxwell’s High Praise
Speaking on The Grade Cricketer Podcast, Maxwell lauded Jaiswal’s versatility and ability to adapt across conditions and formats.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal is a special talent. He handles short-pitched deliveries, drives beautifully, plays spin exceptionally well, and absorbs pressure with ease. I firmly believe he has the potential to score more than 40 Test centuries and break numerous records. His adaptability and crisp footwork make him a formidable player, and if we don’t find a way to contain him, he could become a serious challenge for Australia in the upcoming matches,” Maxwell said.
Jaiswal’s Impressive Test Career
In just 15 Tests, Jaiswal has amassed 1,568 runs at an outstanding average of 58.07, with four centuries and eight fifties. Notably, all his centuries have been converted into scores of 150 or more, with his highest being 214*. He currently ranks second in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 run-scorer list, trailing England’s Joe Root, who has 1,750 runs.
Jaiswal’s home performances have been stellar, scoring 1,091 runs in 10 matches at an average of 60.61, including two centuries. His away record is equally impressive, with 477 runs in five Tests at an average of 53.00, highlighted by a 171-run innings against the West Indies.
Looking Ahead
Jaiswal is the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket for 2024, with 1,280 runs at an average of 58.18, including three centuries and seven fifties. He trails only Joe Root, who leads the charts with 1,338 runs in 14 Tests.
The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a pink-ball day-night match, is scheduled to take place at Adelaide Oval on December 6. With Jaiswal in sublime form, all eyes will be on the young opener to see if he can further establish himself as a dominant force in Test cricket.
