All eyes will be on Yashasvi Jaiswal on Day 3 when India and England resume their epic battle at the Oval. The southpaw Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the key batters for India and with middle order lacking teeth due to the absence of Rishabh Pant, it is important that Jaiswal stands up and be counted as he missed out in the first innings. The match is evenly poised with India at 75/2 leading by 52 runs with 8 wickets in hand.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has got a start in this innings and it will be imperative that he converts it to a big hundred if India wants to have a substantial total to defend against England who are known as great chasers. Jaiswal has had a middling series so far as he tapered off from the first two Test matches. This match and innings is an opportunity to end the series on a high and put India in a decent position from where they can square the series.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s big ton is the need of the hour for IndiaÂ
After failing in the first innings, Yashasvi Jaiswal came out all guns blazing in the second innings as he showed intent out there. While his partners like KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan looked tentative thanks to great bowling by England, Jaiswal looked in control and showed intent in scoring runs. He got two reprieves by England as Harry Brook dropped him at slip cordon while substitute fielder Liam Dawson dropped him at deep fine leg when Jaiswal almost fell trapped to the pull shot.
Jaiswal must make England pay for their mistakes and convert this half-century into a century and beyond if India aspire to win and level the series up. A fifty won’t make much difference to this game. He also has to prove his detractors wrong as he averages around 10 in the second innings. He has to show to the world that he can bat well in the second innings with the game on the line and series as well.
Most experts reckon that India will need a lead of around 300 to make life difficult for England. In order to get to that landmark, India has to bat well and Jaiswal has to lead the way. All eyes will be on him as to how he can weather the early onslaught from English bowlers and convert this into a big one. Make no mistake, it’s not going to be easy. Yes, Shubman Gill has a role to play as well alongside the other middle order batters. But the onus is on Jaiswal to play through and others revolve around him. The whole team needs to contribute.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Performances in the series and before
Yashasvi Jaiswal started the series with a bang scoring a hundred at Leeds. He followed that up with 87 in the second Test at Edgbaston but has tapered off since. He has hardly scored runs in the second innings of Test matches as all his big scores before this Oval Test has come in the first innings. He scored a gritty 58 in the first innings at Manchester before missing out in two consecutive innings. But as an opener, Jaiswal will be disappointed to get only one century in 5 matches so far.
Jaiswal will know deep down that he can do much better. Yes, it is his first English tour and a lot to learn. He has a terrific record against England, but in this series he has been average. The third innings of the Test match can be tricky and Jaiswal needs to come out there and perform to the fullest. Jaiswal has done that before performing clutch under pressure and he will want to draw inspiration from the Perth heroics.
The only Test match that India won in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25, the game was in the balance when Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul came to open in the third innings of the match. The duo put on 201 for the first wicket with KL Rahul dismissed for 77 but Yashasvi Jaiswal not only scored a hundred but converted into a daddy hundred scoring 161 off 297 balls. He showed his class and albeit the conditions favoured the batters a little bit, but getting that big hundred really helped India as they set up a mammoth score and Australia lost the game.
Jaiswal and India will want to draw the confidence from this Perth knock and also his overall record against England to perform well with India needing a win to level the series. To score two double tons under pressure is no joke, and Jaiswal will want to draw confidence from all his achievements in the past and stand up to be counted. He must play as a senior player’s role in absence of Pant and all eyes will be on him when the third day’s play gets underway.
What Lies Ahead
So, the stage is set for the moving day of the Test match. It is the most important and could be the most defining day of the Test match. Who plays the big moments better will go a long way in defining who wins the Test match and the fate of the series as well. So, far in this series, England has played the big moments better and grabbed the game. With a lead of 52 runs with 8 wickets in hand, India will need a lead close to 300 and more to challenge England. England will want early inroads.
So, which team will grab the initiative on the moving day and march ahead in the Test match? What will be the weather and how will it affect the proceedings of Day 3? We hope the rain stays away and we get a full day’s play today because this is going to be exciting and enthralling viewing as well. India will hope it is their day, but England won’t make things easy at all.
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