PERTH: Batting maestro Virat Kohli wound back the clock with a sensational masterclass against Australia in the first Test on Sunday, but it was Yashasvi Jaiswal who showed the world what the next decade of Indian batsmanship might look like.
Australia trail by 522 runs on day three in Perth, crumbling to 12-3 at stumps after India piled on 487-6 declared, courtesy of 161 from Jaiswal and 100 not out from Kohli.
“Paaji (elder brother Kohli) has been doing it for a long time, so he’s just incredible,” an elated Jaiswal told reporters.
“I was enjoying his batting, we were so happy.”
Walking to the crease at 275-2, unburdened by scoreboard pressure, Kohli dissected the field with ease and became increasingly belligerent throughout his knock.
Jaiswal slams unbeaten 90 as India seize control against Australia
He struck eight fours and two sixes, blowing kisses to wife and Bollywood star Anushka Sharma upon reaching his 30th Test century.
The 36-year-old’s first ton in 16 months comes in a country where he has scored 1457 runs at an average of 56, making it a happy hunting ground.
But while the former captain’s century was the cherry on top of India’s day, opener Jaiswal earned the title of heir-apparent to Kohli as his side’s batting figurehead by helping set the mammoth target score of 534.
“Be fearless,” Jaiswal described his approach, which included caution on day two to see off the new ball, and enterprising aggression on the third morning to take the game away from the hosts.
“I will go and take a brave decision, this is my mindset. What is required for my team, I will try and do.”
Half an hour into the day, and with a point to prove after falling for a duck in the first innings, the 22-year-old brought up his fourth Test hundred audaciously upper-cutting pacer Josh Hazlewood to deep fine leg.
Ominously, and much like vintage Kohli, when Jaiswal reaches three figures he likes to make it count, having converted the two other centuries scored in 2024 into doubles.
He fluently passed 150 during a 38-run stand with Kohli, but eventually pushed his luck too far against all-rounder Mitchell Marsh when a full-blooded cut was caught by Steve Smith at point to end a spectacular 432-minute knock.
In a symbolic changing of the guard at the end of the day, Jaiswal said Kohli instructed him to lead the team off the field.
“He told me ‘Go, go forward’”.
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