Yashasvi Jaiswal Vs South Africa: Struggles Continue As He Falls For A Duck At Eden Gardens

By Prashant for PuneriPages.in

At the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, a stadium that has witnessed some of Indian cricket’s most iconic moments, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s struggle against South Africa continued in the ongoing Test series. The young Indian opener, who has been hailed as one of the most promising batting talents of his generation, fell for a duck in the second innings, further extending his lean patch against the Proteas.

A Painful Dismissal That Reflects a Pattern

Yashasvi Jaiswal walked out to bat with confidence, eager to make amends for his first-innings dismissal. However, fate had other plans. Facing the new ball under overcast skies and swinging conditions, Jaiswal attempted to drive a full delivery from Kagiso Rabada, only to edge it straight to the second slip.

The ball was a typical Rabada masterpiece — pitched on a good length, shaping slightly away, tempting the drive. For Jaiswal, it was another early exit, and for South Africa, another successful execution of a plan that has worked repeatedly against him throughout the series.

As the Eden Gardens crowd fell silent, Jaiswal’s body language spoke volumes. Shoulders drooped, eyes downcast — it was a moment of frustration for a batter known for his composure and fearless approach.

Struggles Against South African Pace – A Statistical Breakdown

Since his debut, Yashasvi Jaiswal has performed admirably across conditions, but the South African pace attack seems to have found the chink in his armor.

Series Stats vs South Africa (so far):

Innings: 6
Runs: 74
Average: 12.33
Highest Score: 28
Dismissals by Pacers: 5 out of 6
Dismissals off Short or Full Deliveries: 4

What stands out is how South Africa’s pace trio — Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi — have exploited Jaiswal’s early vulnerability outside the off-stump. Each has bowled a consistent line that forces him to play away from the body, where his natural aggressiveness becomes his downfall.

South Africa’s Strategic Approach

The South Africans deserve credit for meticulous planning. Their bowling coach, Charl Langeveldt, earlier mentioned that Jaiswal’s tendency to push at deliveries early in his innings was noted from his IPL and previous international performances.

The plan?

New Ball Attack: Target him with a mix of outswingers and back-of-length balls in the channel.
Patience Over Pressure: Bowl dry spells to frustrate him into playing risky strokes.
Slip Cordons Ready: Keeping three slips and a gully to anticipate the inevitable edge.

Rabada, who dismissed Jaiswal in both innings of this Test, has been particularly lethal. His record against the left-hander now stands at four dismissals in six innings — a worrying trend for India’s management ahead of the next fixtures.

Technical Analysis – What’s Going Wrong?

Jaiswal’s natural style is aggressive and front-foot dominant. While this serves him well in Indian conditions where the ball doesn’t move much, it’s been his undoing on pitches with extra bounce and lateral movement.

Key Technical Flaws Observed:

Hard Hands Early On: Jaiswal tends to play at deliveries he could leave, using firm hands instead of soft ones.
Over-committed Front Foot: His front-foot stride often locks him in, reducing reaction time against late movement.
Limited Back-Foot Game: On bouncier wickets, he’s yet to adapt fully to play the rising ball effectively.

However, experts argue these are not permanent weaknesses but learning phases every young opener faces.

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer noted,

“Yashasvi is a gifted batsman. The moment he finds that balance between aggression and caution, he’ll be unstoppable. South Africa is a great teacher — it exposes what needs fixing.”

Team India’s Response – Backing Their Young Star

Despite the repeated failures, Team India’s management and captain Rohit Sharma have extended full support to Jaiswal. They see his potential as a long-term investment, similar to how players like Virat Kohli and Rohit himself were nurtured through early struggles.

Rohit remarked in the post-day press conference:

“We all go through tough series. Yashasvi is a special player, and we believe he’ll come out stronger. He’s working hard in the nets with coaches to make adjustments.”

Batting coach Vikram Rathour has reportedly been working closely with Jaiswal to refine his technique — focusing on playing closer to the body and improving his balance while facing the new ball.

Eden Gardens Conditions – A Test of Technique

The conditions at Eden Gardens have always favored fast bowlers early on, particularly under cloudy skies. The extra carry and lateral movement make it a nightmare for openers.

The pitch on Day 3 offered consistent seam movement and bounce, and the new Dukes ball swung for nearly 15 overs. Even seasoned batters like Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill found it difficult to negotiate.

For Jaiswal, walking in at 0/0 against Rabada’s fiery spell was always going to be a tough ask. However, the dismissal added another layer to the narrative of his ongoing battle against top-tier fast bowling.

Fans React – From Disappointment to Support

Social media was flooded with reactions moments after Jaiswal’s dismissal. While some fans expressed disappointment, the majority stood behind the young southpaw, emphasizing that form slumps are part of a cricketer’s journey.

A popular fan tweet read:

“Even legends like Dravid and Kohli had their bad patches. Yashasvi will learn. Trust the process.”

Others highlighted that despite his failures in this series, Jaiswal’s stellar domestic record and previous international performances — especially his double century against England — prove his caliber.

Experts Weigh In – Learning Phase, Not a Decline

Cricket analysts believe that this rough patch will serve as an essential phase in Jaiswal’s career.

Former South African pacer Dale Steyn, speaking on a sports channel, said:

“Facing Rabada and Jansen in these conditions is as tough as it gets. If Yashasvi can survive this, he’ll come out twice the batter he was.”

Similarly, commentator Harsha Bhogle emphasized the importance of exposure, saying,

“The greats were forged in failure. What Jaiswal is experiencing right now will define how quickly he becomes a world-class opener.”

Looking Ahead – The Road to Redemption

India will next face South Africa in the final Test in Chennai, where conditions will likely favor spin and slower pace. This shift could give Jaiswal the ideal platform to rebuild confidence.

Coaches have suggested that Jaiswal is spending extended hours in the nets, simulating swing-ball sessions with bowling machines and left-arm angle deliveries — aimed at overcoming his current vulnerabilities.

The selectors, too, remain committed to giving him a long run at the top, ensuring he develops resilience under pressure rather than being dropped prematurely.

Conclusion – A Setback, Not the End

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s duck at Eden Gardens may mark another disappointing chapter in his South Africa struggles, but it’s far from a career-defining moment. Every great Indian opener — from Sehwag to Gambhir — faced tough overseas spells before mastering the craft.

At just 23, Jaiswal has the talent, temperament, and time to adapt. His hunger for success and willingness to learn are the traits that separate fleeting talents from enduring legends.

As India heads into the next Test, all eyes will be on the young left-hander to rise from the ashes, stronger and wiser — because in cricket, every failure is simply the first step toward greatness.