Yashasvi Jaiswal’s rise in Test cricket has been rapid, loud, and impossible to ignore. A hundred on debut, milestones piling up quickly, and the distinction of becoming the seventh-fastest Indian to 1,000 Test runs - everything about his early career has signaled the arrival of a long-term star. Add to that the record for the most sixes in a Test innings, and you get a batter whose impact has been felt across formats and continents.
But even the most promising careers develop a few unexpected turns, and for Jaiswal, that twist has come in the form of a surprising struggle against South Africa.
His overall Test average sits close to 50, a number that places him among the brightest young performers in the format. Against England, he averages a strong 62. Against Australia, a respectable 43.4. He has shown that he can adapt, absorb pressure, and shift gears when situations demand. Yet the same composure disappears the moment South Africa take the field.
Jaiswal’s Test average against the Proteas is just 10.3 - a number almost unrecognizable when placed next to the rest of his record. In six innings, he has scored only 62 runs, hasn’t crossed fifty even once, and his best effort remains a modest 28. The contrast is stark enough to raise questions rather than criticisms. It’s not a case of lacking talent or technique; it feels more like a matchup he hasn’t unlocked yet.
The most recent example came in the first Test of the ongoing series. Jaiswal scratched his way to 12 in the first innings and then fell for a duck in the second - his first-ever duck on home soil. That dismissal wasn’t just another entry on the scorecard; it marked how differently South Africa have managed to pin him down compared to other teams. Their disciplined lines, relentless lengths, and refusal to release pressure seem to disrupt his natural rhythm more than any other attack.
For India, the timing of this dip becomes important. With the series in the balance and Shubman Gill’s availability uncertain for the next Test, Jaiswal’s role carries extra weight. India rely on him not just for brisk starts but for stability at the top - something he has provided consistently everywhere except against South Africa.
Every successful Test batter eventually faces a phase where a particular opponent becomes a mental and technical challenge. For Jaiswal, this appears to be that phase. And if the early chapters of his career are any indication, the solution might only be one good innings away.
Also Watch: Rohit Sharma likely to return as ODI captain in Shubman Gill's absence
