Former England captain Alastair Cook has lavished praise on India’s opener Yashasvi Jaiswal after the young batter’s stellar knock of 161 against Australia in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. Alastair Cook highlighted Yashasvi Jaiswal’s confidence and character, noting his audacious sledging of Australian pacer Mitchell Starc during the innings.
“Sledging Starc, telling him he’s bowling slow, takes guts. I’ve faced Starc, and he’s anything but slow. For a 22-year-old to show that confidence is remarkable,” Cook remarked. The former England skipper also pointed out Jaiswal’s exceptional record as an opener, adding, “He’s scored the most runs by any Indian player after 15 Tests at the top of the order. It’s the hardest place to bat, and he’s doing it with class.”
Alastair Cook also expressed surprise at India’s emphatic 295-run victory, praising their brave decision-making on a challenging Perth pitch. “Winning the toss and batting on that wicket was a bold call. Even after being bowled out for 150, India’s comeback was phenomenal. It’s a tough place to play, but they hammered Australia,” he said.
Reflecting on India’s all-round performance, Alastair Cook added, “Leaving out Ashwin was surprising, but their strategy worked brilliantly. Isn’t it nice to see Australia get thrashed?”
