- August 4, 2025
If you kept up with the 2025 England vs India Test series, you would have been hearing a lot about Yashasvi Jaiswal. The young opener has been crushing it (both literally and figuratively), and after Day 3 at The Oval, former India batting great Navjot Singh Sidhu stated, “Jaiswal is now above greatness”. A huge statement by Sidhu – let’s discuss why this statement isn’t mere hyperbole and a reflection of a new superstar in cricket coming alive.
Breaking the Mold: Jaiswal’s Fearless Brand of Opening
Remember the days when Test openers were just there to “weather the storm”? Defensive, cautious, grinding runs while holding the fort? Well, that era’s been shaken up by players like Virender Sehwag, who made the opening more aggressive and exciting. Jaiswal isn’t just following that trend—he’s taken it a step further.
In his outstanding 118 runs from 164 balls on Day 3, Jaiswal was not merely scoring runs; he frustrated the English bowlers. Sidhu paints Jaiswal in the same fearless light as Sehwag and Hayden—two openers who didn’t just face the new ball, they bullied it. But the best part is, Sidhu claims Jaiswal is now “greater than great.” Why? Because instead of getting through the overs, he attacked the English bowlers instead, forcing them onto the back foot. Not only did he score 14 boundaries and two maximums, but they weren’t careless shots; they were methodical scoring shots that took away the bowlers’ confidence.
The Numbers Tell a Story: Consistency Meets Flair
Talent without consistency is like fireworks missing the spark! Jaiswal seems to have both! He has compiled a remarkable 411 runs in this series, in 10 innings, with two centuries, and two fifties for a solid average of 41.10! Those numbers, on a first-ever tour of England, say a lot about his temperament and talent.
It is also worth noting that this series is being played during a transition of India’s Test team. With stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin stepping away, a heavy mantle has fallen on young shoulders like Jaiswal’s—pressure that he’s not just handling, but thriving under. Instead, he is thriving.
Sidhu’s accolade isn’t just for a single innings, but the understanding that Jaiswal isn’t just playing in the team, but leading the team, the expectations, and delivering every time.
Why Jaiswal’s Impact Could Signal a New Era
Sidhu’s comments about Jaiswal are not only about runs and records but reflect a much bigger change. He talks about the spinners of the future and “the iron is hot” about the prospect of this young team really making a statement if they win at The Oval.
Jaiswal plays in a way that is not only fearless and aggressive, but he is also scoring runs consistently – this is the new brand of play. With that in mind, India’s patients may have an opportunity to put down a daunting target and make England wobble along with their innings.
If India manages to win this game, it won’t just be a result on a scoreboard — it will be an enormous lift for a team that is trying to redefine itself. And Yashasvi’s part in that is nothing less than huge.
What do you think? Is Yashasvi Jaiswal already playing at levels above some of the greats? Or is this just the starting block of something even bigger? Either way, the cricketing world is watching — and thoroughly enjoying it.
