‘There is no confusion’: Yashasvi Jaiswal’s straightforward response to criticism around Shubman Gill’s playing XI selection calls

Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has defended his captain regarding the team’s selection calls for the second Test against England. Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir have been under the pump after they left out gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to manage his workload and also didn’t include Kuldeep Yadav to accommodate a long batting line-up.

Meanwhile, Gill has been leading from the front and scored an unbeaten knock of 114 runs on the opening day of the second Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Wednesday. The Indian skipper had also scored a fine knock of 147 runs in the first innings of the opening Test at Leeds, Headingley.

“I think he’s been amazing the way he’s batting. It’s just incredible to see him bat and as a captain also he’s been amazing. I think he’s very clear in his head what he needs to do with the team and we are very confident in what we are going to do. So yeah, we are just trying our best. There’s no confusion in it,” Jaiswal told reporters after the end of the play on Day 1 at Edgbaston.

On the other hand, Yashasvi Jaiswal also continued his love affair against England as he scored an impressive knock of 87 runs on the opening day.

“I really enjoyed (batting). I was just trying to keep playing the session and trying to play the spell, and then when I thought ‘okay I can score runs and there is opportunity so I will go and I will try and score some runs’. That’s what I was thinking when I was batting and but initially when they were bowling really well with the new ball so and wicket was bit damp, I feel. I was just trying to play as much as I can that time,” Jaiswal said of his innings.

Jaiswal was dismissed by England captain Ben Stokes when he got an outside edge while trying to play a cut shot on a wide and short delivery. 

On missing out on a century, Jaiswal said, “It is disappointing. But it’s ok. I think it’s a part of game as well as I just need to keep learning with what I do and with that I want to enjoy the game as well because in the end I feel that it’s just cricket and cricket is a wonderful game so I want to enjoy it as well.”

India ended the opening day at 310-5.