Promising signs of marathon innings for trio

Jaiswal, Gill Sarfaraz have shown potential to become India’s mainstays for years to come

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ON day two of the Rajkot Test, even as Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley went about their business against Indian pacers, there was an interesting pattern emerging. Dhruv Jurel was keeping wickets, Sarfaraz Khan at first slip and Yashasvi Jaiswal at second. Shubman Gill, meanwhile, was at covers. That slip cordon and the close-in field was an indication of something significant.

Indian cricket's red-ball transition has been in progress for a while now. However, what one could witness in Rajkot was a clear representation of where the Indian team is in terms of the transition. Jurel and Jaiswal batch of 2020 U19 World Cup Gill (2018) and Sarfaraz (2014 and 2016) have come of age in a way that was visible ten years ago. Back in 2013-14, India's Test team post-Sachin Tendulkar's retirement had Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma (2006 U19 WC batch), Virat Kohli (2008 WC) and Ravindra Jadeja (2006 and 2008 U19 WCs). For the better part of the next decade, (Rohit would be in and out of the Test side), these are the names that featured and defined the Indian Test line-up.

Ten years on, Jaiswal is dominating as an opener. Gill is settling into No.3 and Sarfaraz made a mark on debut at No. 5.