Analysis of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Recent Test Match Difficulties
Indian Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has encountered a notable decline in batting form across recent Test fixtures. After establishing himself as an exciting top-order option, his recent outings against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have resulted in lower returns, culminating in dismissals that analysts and cricket figures have linked to specific technical and shot-selection challenges.
What Happened
Across his last three Test innings, Jaiswal has registered scores of 24, 32, and 0. His most recent setback took place on Day 4 of the first Test in Galle on August 18, 2026, where he fell for a three-ball duck after nicking the ball to give Sri Lanka early momentum. This follows previous struggles, including a pair of dismissals against South Africa in Kolkata on November 16, 2025, and low scores during the Lord’s Test against England in July 2025.
Key Highlights
- Aggression Against the New Ball: Jaiswal has maintained an aggressive first-ball approach, which backfired in Galle where he did not adjust for surface turn, and in Kolkata where he was dismissed trying to cut early in his innings.
- Pujara and Chopra’s Observations: Cheteshwar Pujara pointed out a technical fault in Jaiswal’s Kolkata dismissal, while analyst Aakash Chopra noted Jaiswal’s insistence on cutting deliveries that are slightly short and wide.
- Struggles Against Left-Arm Seam: Chopra highlighted Jaiswal’s vulnerability against left-arm seamers across formats. South Africa’s Marco Jansen dismissed him twice in the Kolkata Test—once via an inside edge onto the stumps and later caught behind for a four-ball duck.
- Playing Away From the Body: Early in his innings, Jaiswal has shown a pattern of reaching for balls outside off-stump with hard hands, as seen during his second-innings seven-ball duck at Lord’s on July 13, 2025, and his recent duck at Galle.
Why This Matters
Test cricket top orders face the new ball in demanding conditions where high-risk stroke play leaves minimal room for error. When an opener plays away from the body or fails to commit decisively forward or backward, late swing or seam movement from bowlers like left-arm pacers creates recurring chances for edges and dismissals.
What to Watch Next
Future matches will demonstrate how Jaiswal adjusts his approach against the moving new ball, particularly whether he refines his early-innings shot selection and adapts his footwork when facing left-arm pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Yashasvi Jaiswal’s recent Test scores?
Jaiswal recorded scores of 24, 32, and 0 across his last three Test innings against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Who highlighted technical problems in Jaiswal’s batting?
Cheteshwar Pujara identified a technical issue following Jaiswal’s dismissal against South Africa in Kolkata, while Aakash Chopra noted his persistent tendency to play cut shots and his difficulties against left-arm pace.
Which bowlers have recently troubled Jaiswal in Tests?
Left-arm seamer Marco Jansen dismissed Jaiswal in both innings of the Kolkata Test in November 2025, bowling him off an inside edge in the first innings and having him caught behind for a duck in the second.
Source: Crictracker