Yashasvi Jaiswal brought up his seventh Test century in style on Day 1 of India’s second and final Test against West Indies in New Delhi on October 10, a knock that perfectly captured his ability to balance patience and aggression. What began as a slow, watchful start soon turned into a free-flowing display of confidence as Jaiswal switched gears and took charge of the innings in trademark “Jas-ball” fashion, and completed a milestone hundred in just 145 balls.
After a quiet outing in the first Test in Ahmedabad, where India’s batting lineup had already fired with three centuries from KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Dhruv Jurel, Jaiswal seemed determined to make his mark in the capital. Alongside KL Rahul, he started cautiously, seeing off the early swing and bounce from the West Indies seamers. India managed just around 2.5 runs per over in the first hour, but it was all part of the plan.
Yashasvi Jaiswal joins elite list
With this century, Yashasvi Jaiswal entered an elite group of cricketers. Before turning 24, only a few legends had scored more centuries:
- Don Bradman – 12
- Sachin Tendulkar – 11
- Garfield Sobers – 9
Other greats like Javed Miandad, Graeme Smith, Alastair Cook, and Kane Williamson also had seven centuries at a young age, putting Jaiswal in remarkable company.
When KL Rahul fell to Jomel Warrican’s third ball of the day’s spin shift, India momentarily looked vulnerable. But Jaiswal, reading the conditions and the opposition, flipped the switch. The first sign came immediately after lunch when he cracked back-to-back boundaries off Jayden Seales, a clear signal that he was done defending. Another boundary soon followed, and in just 82 balls, Jaiswal raised his fifty, visibly frustrating the West Indies attack.
From there, his innings flowed effortlessly. Whether facing the pacers or spinners, Jaiswal combined control with flair, punishing loose deliveries with crisp drives and sweeps. The early caution gave way to composure and dominance as he raced from fifty in 82 balls to his hundred in the next 63 balls, a statement of intent from a batter who has learned when to hold back and when to strike.
Jaiswal’s previous century had come at The Oval against England, a knock full of promise. But this one in New Delhi carried something more: maturity. It was a reminder that beneath the flamboyant stroke play lies a batter capable of building his innings with thought and precision, timing both his shots and his momentum to perfection.
This century was not just about runs; it was about rhythm, and Yashasvi Jaiswal found his right tempo at just the right time.
