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Young Indian opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal expressed his deep sense of privilege at batting alongside Virat Kohli during India's recent victory in the second T20I against Afghanistan, held on January 15 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. The match marked a significant return for Kohli to the T20I format after a hiatus of 14 months, his last appearance being in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final against England. Kohli made a notable contribution of 29 runs from 16 balls, including five boundaries, before being dismissed by Naveen-ul-Haq.
India, chasing a target of 173, faced an early setback with the loss of Rohit Sharma. However, Kohli and Jaiswal swiftly steadied the innings, forging a crucial 57-run partnership for the second wicket. Jaiswal, who opened the innings, was particularly impressive, scoring a robust 68 runs off 34 balls, studded with five boundaries and six sixes. His performance was a key factor in steering India towards a commanding position in the match.
"I have been told to go there and express myself and try to do what I do best. I keep working hard on my practice sessions so that whenever I get a chance, I try my best," Jaiswal was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.
Jaiswal shared insights into his interactions with Kohli during their partnership, underscoring the valuable experience of batting with such an esteemed cricketer.
"It was nice going there and enjoying the game, especially when I batted with Virat bhaiya. It is an honour to bat with him and I can learn lots of things," Jaiswal opined
"When we were batting, we had a small chat about where we could hit. Then we decided that it was easy to hit over long on and mid-off, and we tried to do that. The intent was positive and we tried to hit good shots," he added.
Jaiswal also reflected on the team's strategic decision to bowl first, a choice influenced by the anticipated impact of the dew factor later in the game. This decision proved to be astute, as India clinched a six-wicket victory and edged closer to a potential clean sweep in the series.
"It was a good decision to bat second as there was dew in the second-half. I enjoyed the environment that we had in Indore," Jaiswal added.
The Indian team now sets its sights on the final match of the series, aiming for a clean sweep against Afghanistan. The third T20I is scheduled to take place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on January 17. The series so far has showcased India's dominance in the format and their ability to adapt to different game situations.Ā
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