In a stunning display of batting prowess, Yashasvi Jaiswal etched his name in the annals of cricket history during the India vs. England Test match at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. Jaiswal’s extraordinary performance in the second innings not only secured India’s biggest-ever victory margin of 434 runs but also made him the first player to score consecutive Test double centuries. However, amidst the celebrations, an unusual streak of misfortune accompanies Jaiswal’s exceptional achievement.
The 22-year-old left-handed batter’s unbeaten knock of 214 runs in just 236 balls was nothing short of a spectacle. With a remarkable 12 sixes, Jaiswal not only set an Indian record for the most sixes in an innings but also equaled Wasim Akram’s longstanding world record. His feat makes him the second Indian left-handed batter, after Vinod Kambli, to achieve two double centuries in Test cricket.
Adding to his list of accolades, Jaiswal now stands alongside Kambli and Virat Kohli as the only Indians to score back-to-back double tons in Test cricket. Notably, he and Kohli share the distinction of achieving this rare feat in the same series.
Despite this extraordinary accomplishment, Jaiswal finds himself in a unique position among the seven players globally who have achieved back-to-back centuries. The oddity lies in the fact that he is the only one among the seven not to win the Player of the Match award in either game since the introduction of the award after the time of Wally Hammond and Don Bradman.
In the Visakhapatnam Test, Jasprit Bumrah claimed the Player of the Match for his stellar six-wicket haul in the first innings and three dismissals in the second. In the Ranchi Test, the honor went to Ravindra Jadeja, who showcased his all-round brilliance with a century in the first innings and a five-wicket haul in the second.
Jaiswal’s unparalleled achievement is bittersweet, showcasing the unpredictability and dynamics of cricket awards. Despite the absence of individual accolades, his contribution has been instrumental in India’s historic victories.
