Aakash Chopra sheds light on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s problem against left-arm seamers

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opened up on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s issues against left-arm seamers. Jaiswal scored a magnificent knock of 161 runs in the second innings of the opening Test at Perth but barring that, he hasn’t been able to contribute much at the top of the order in the ongoing BGT against Australia.

Australia’s gun fast bowler Mitchell Starc has had Jaiswal’s number in the ongoing series and has dismissed him thrice in the first three Test matches. Chopra said it is not only Mitchell Starc but Jaiswal has had a perennial issue against left-arm seamers and the same was palpable in the Indian Premier League when he opened for Rajasthan Royals.

“The truth is that Yashasvi Jaiswal is having problems against left-arm pace, and this problem has not started now. It’s been happening regularly. This was happening in the IPL as well, which means it is not a format-specific problem. It is not a Mitchell Starc problem,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“His numbers against left-arm pace are not that good and that is getting exploited because, for some strange reason, Mitchell Starc is back to his best. We felt there was a slight slide in his career but he has again started to bowl with the same rhythm,” he added.

In the ongoing Test series so far, Jaiswal has scored 193 runs from six innings at an average of 38.60 with one century. This is the first time when Jaiswal is playing in Australian conditions and he will certainly look to be more consistent for the visitors.

On the other hand, Australia is 292-5 after 81 overs on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test. Sam Konstas, the debutant, scored an impressive knock of 60 runs whereas Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne also scored decent half-centuries. Steve Smith is batting unbeaten on 68.