"Play with Yashasvi Jaiswal's ego.."- David Lloyd's message to Ben Stokes and Co

Yashasvi Jaiswal was instrumental in Team India’s 106-run victory in the second Test of the five-match series in Visakhapatnam. The left-handed batter scored 209 runs from 290 balls, including seven sixes and 19 fours, while the second-highest score was 34 in the first innings.

The 22-year-old opening batter tops the run-scoring charts in the ongoing red-ball series, amassing 321 runs in four innings at an impressive average of 80.25. The southpaw played a quick-fire 80 runs off 74 deliveries during India’s first Test defeat in Hyderabad.

Like To See England Play On Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Ego – David Lloyd

In his column for the Daily Mail, David Lloyd said that England should adopt an unconventional approach against Yashasvi Jaiswal in the upcoming Test match. He also noted the impressive performances of Indian batters, such as Shubman Gill.

“Jaiswal is a dasher all right but he doesn’t have an obvious weakness, so I would be thinking slightly outside the box and rather than bowling the left-arm spinner against him with the new ball, I would be tempted to persevere with the off-spinner, placing temptation in the deep. I would like to see England play on Jaiswal’s ego bit more,” wrote Lloyd.

“Shubman Gill stepped up in the second Test and the Indian batters are all well capable of getting massive scores. The one England have had the most problems with so far is Yashasvi Jaiswal and their challenge therefore is to try to work out a plan to dismiss the series’ leading run scorer,” he added.

Yashasvi Jaiswal made his Test debut against the West Indies last year. The left-handed batter smashed 171 runs in his debut match in the West Indies. He has scored 637 runs in six Tests at an impressive average of 57.91, including two centuries and two fifties.

You Can Really Give It A Tonk – David Lloyd

David Lloyd pointed out the high scores in Rajkot, which could be an advantage for England in the upcoming match. The former English skipper suggested that England could adopt a more aggressive gameplay at the venue.

“Such ridiculously high totals at Rajkot suggest there is little difference whether you bat first or second, and in old money this would be a long, drawn-out match. However, there’s been a mind shift from England of course and we all know this team under Ben Stokes are going to be aggressive. It seems to be a venue where you can really give it a tonk,” wrote Lloyd.

India and England will compete in the third Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, beginning on February 15. The home team has played two matches at this venue, winning one against the West Indies in 2018 and drawing against England in 2016.

India remains unbeaten in home Test series since 2012, while England has not faced defeat in a red-ball series since mid-2022 under the captaincy of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

Also read: AB de Villiers snubs Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jasprit Bumrah to name the Indian player whose performance helped India win the Vizag Test