As India gears up for a two-match Test series against South Africa starting on December 26, all eyes are on young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is set to embark on his first Test tour of the Rainbow Nation. Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, however, urges caution and advises against burdening Jaiswal with unrealistic expectations in the challenging South African conditions.
Gautam Gambhir, speaking on Star Sports, acknowledged the significant differences between the subcontinental wickets encountered in the West Indies and the unique challenges posed by South Africa’s pace attack and bouncy conditions. He stressed that facing the likes of Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, or Nandre Burger will present a distinct set of challenges for Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal impressive performance in the West Indies, where he scored 266 runs in three innings at an average of 88.67, Gambhir cautions against anticipating extraordinary feats in the upcoming series. He emphasizes that while Jaiswal possesses skills on both the front and back foot, the South African conditions will be a different test.
Gautam Gambhir keeping expectations low from Yashasvi Jaiswal
Gambhir suggests that even if Yashasvi Jaiswal contributes with 25-30 runs and provides a solid start to India, it would be a valuable experience for the young cricketer. He extends this perspective to other promising talents like Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, asserting that they, too, will emerge as better players through such experiences.
The former cricketer turned commentator also reflects on the heightened scrutiny faced by young players on their maiden tours to challenging destinations like South Africa or Australia. Gambhir contrasts the present scenario with that of a decade ago, highlighting the increased criticism faced by young players today.
He emphasizes the need for consistent judgment parameters, noting that young Australian or South African batsmen aren’t scrutinized as much when they struggle in Indian conditions.
As Yashasvi Jaiswal and other young talents embark on this significant tour, Gambhir’s advice echoes a call for measured expectations and a recognition of the learning curve that awaits these promising cricketers in unfamiliar cricketing landscapes.
