Star India Batter, Snubbed For Asia Cup 2025, Sends Big Message With Half-Century
Yashasvi Jaiswal sent a big message to selectors with a half-century for West Zone during the Duleep Trophy match against Central Zone.
Yashasvi Jaiswal sent a big message to selectors with a half-century for West Zone during the Duleep Trophy match against Central Zone on Sunday. Jaiswal, who wasn't included in the Indian cricket team squad for the Asia Cup 2025, slammed 64 off 70 deliveries. While Jaiswal impressed everyone with his gritty knock, a first-innings lead meant that Central Zone progressed to the Duleep Trophy final, where they will face South Zone. However, it was an important knock for Jaiswal, who is still in contention for a spot in the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies.
Central, overnight 556 for eight, were bowled out for 600 but not before Saransh Jain (63 not out) compiled a well-deserved fifty.
West skipper Shardul Thakur (6) was dismissed at the stroke of tea, with Tanush Kotian (40) batting at the other end, and both teams agreed to shake hands at that point, signaling a draw.
While not seeing his side in the title clash might come as a disappointment for Jaiswal, he would be happy to spend some good time in the middle for the first time after the Test series against England.
He was his usual aggressive self while making a fifty at a strike rate of 92, but eventually the aggression proved his undoing as a rather ugly swipe off left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey (3/96) ended his stay.
However, Shreyas Iyer, who came to bat at No. 7, disappointed for the second time in the match, getting out for 12.
Iyer, who will captain India A against Australia A in two red-ball games later this month, nicked off-spinner Saransh Jain (5/84) to stumper Upendra Yadav.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made a big hundred in the first innings, started positively, slamming two sixes but soon perished to Dubey for 16.
Once their three main batters did not kick on and slipped to 168 for six, the duty to save the day for the West Zone side fell on lower-order batters such as Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, and Thakur.
They were tested to the hilt by Dubey and Jain before Deshpande fell to the latter, giving a simple catch to Rajat Patidar at mid-wicket.
But Central did not press for the outright win, despite West's lead being a minuscule 54 with just two wickets left.
Thakur was understandably disappointed, particularly with the batting in the first innings where West were bowled out for 438.
"In the first innings of Day 1, there were a few shots that we could have avoided as a batting unit, and that's where we lost the momentum. And then, of course, Ruturaj batted brilliantly to bring us back into the game.
"The partnership between me and Tanush was good, but my run out was probably one of the turning points as well. If we had scored 500 from there, then this game would have definitely turned in our favor. Of course, some catches from our side were put down and a few very close calls not coming our way too,” said Thakur after the match.
(With PTI inputs)
India Cricket Team