IND vs ENG 2024: “He is a very good batsman but I think comparisons are too early” – Virender Sehwag on Yashasvi Jaiswal

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag believes rookie batter Yashasvi Jaiswal should be spared of any comparisons with the legends of the game. Sehwag said Jaiswal is a very good batter but comparisons are too early as the youngster is only six Test matches old.

The left-hander scored a match-winning knock of 209 runs in the first innings of the second Test match against England at Vizag to play a key role in the team’s series-leveling 106-run win.

Furthermore, Jaiswal scored a fine knock of 80 runs in the first innings of the opening Test match at Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Jaiswal also impressed in IPL 2023, scoring 625 runs in 14 matches at an average of 48.07 and a strike rate of more than 163 while playing for Rajasthan Royals.

“He [Yashasvi Jaiswal] is a very good batsman but I think comparisons are too early,” said Sehwag while talking to PTI Bhasha.

Sehwag added that the upcoming IPL should not have any impact on the fatigue and workload of players heading into the T20 World Cup.

“I am confident that fatigue or burnout will not be a concern for players heading into the T20 World Cup. On the contrary, I feel that tournaments like IPL or ILT20 will prove instrumental in preparing teams for the global event. In IPL, one has to play 14 matches over two months, so there is ample time to maintain form and fitness and fine-tune skills ahead of the T20 World Cup.”

With the T20 leagues growing worldwide, Sehwag feels representing the national team should always take precedence over taking part in any T20 league. Recently, a lot of West Indies players left ILT20 to represent the Caribbean nation against Australia.

“I firmly believe that representing a country should always take precedence over participating in any league. It is essential for players to prioritize national duty above club commitments. A prime example of this dedication was evident in the ILT20, where several West Indies players chose to leave the league temporarily to represent their nation in international fixtures in Australia,” said Sehwag.

“While I understand the allure of international leagues for domestic players, I believe their primary focus should remain on excelling in domestic competitions with the ultimate goal of representing India internationally.”

Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has won the toss and has decided to bat first in Rajkot in the third Test against England.