Breaking down why Yashasvi Jaiswal struggles against left-arm fast bowlers — key technical gaps and tactical fixes needed.
Since his Test debut, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been the leading run-getter in the red-ball format. The left-handed batter has notched up 2511 runs in 53 innings at an average of 49.23, thanks to seven centuries and 13 half-centuries. Out of these, his 1118 Test runs in 27 innings at an average of 43 with four centuries and five fifties have come away from home. This shows Jaiswal’s importance for India in the opening spot.
Even in his short career, the left-arm pacers have exposed the Southpaw. Whether it’s Kolkata’s spinning surface or Perth’s fast and bouncy track, the likes of Marco Jansen and Mitchell Starc continue to trouble Jaiswal. It’s a concern for the management, given how the left-hander’s presence keeps them in a strong position in a red-ball clash.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s continuous struggle against left-arm pacers
Jaiswal has been dismissed nine times against the left-arm pacers in the five-day format. In 18 innings, the batter has recorded only 200 runs at an average of 22.2 against left-arm bowlers. This is not limited only to the longest format, he equally struggles even in the shortest format, with 19 dismissals in 52 T20 innings.
In the ongoing Guwahati Test against South Africa, Jansen collected Jaiswal’s wicket in the second innings. The 23-year-old looked to cut the short delivery and ended up getting a thick outside edge into the hands of the wicket-keeper.
In Kolkata during the opening clash of the series, the left-arm towering angle crammed the batter in both dismissals. In the first innings, there was not enough room to cut the short ball, as Jaiswal looked to force it away off the back foot. It resulted in him getting a thick edge on to the leg stump.
In the second innings, the good length delivery nipped back and took the feather of an outside edge of the Southpaw. The Mumbai batter was rooted to the crease in defence, hardly moving his feet. He now has an average of 10.5 against the Proteas’ left-arm pacers with six dismissals in seven Test innings.
This vulnerability was a part of Jaiswal’s road to England and Australia previously. During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 opener in Perth, Jaiswal had no clue of Starc in the first innings. He went for a massive drive to get the thick outside edge into the slip region. His nightmare recommenced in the second day-night Test in Adelaide. Jaiswal missed the flick to the late swing and got pinned on the front leg to be trapped leg before the stumps.
In the first innings of the third Gabba Test, Jaiswal flicked the half-volley straight into the hands of short mid-wicket. This was an example of how he couldn’t judge the angle of the deliveries.
Jaiswal has struggled immensely with his strokes in and outside the channel against the left-arm pacers. Whenever there is a little width on offer, the Southpaw attempts the cut shot without even reflecting on the line and length. It seems like he can’t frame a knock without the fierce shots meeting the offside boundary.
Being equally strong in the T20s, Jaiswal has various shots to tackle the short deliveries that work against him. He hardly remains constant in his mindset, and that double-mindedness brings his downfall.
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India need more left-arm pacers in practice for Yashasvi Jaiswal
Two days before the Guwahati Test against the Proteas, India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, searched for a few left-arm pacers among Assam’s net bowlers. Due to unavailability, Jaiswal went through his session with the team’s left-arm throwdown specialist, Nuwan Seneviratne. Later, he shifted his focus to the wide deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah and Nitish Reddy.
A day before the game, both Reddy and Bumrah went past the Southpaw’s outside edge. But Jaiswal started to plant his left foot forward and repeatedly kept tracking the line of the deliveries. This laid down his battle with emotions regarding the strokes.
It will be important for the management to carry a few quality left-arm pacers with them in the nets for Jaiswal’s perfect practice. The Uttar Pradesh-born needs to take a leaf out of Kumar Sangakkara, Matthew Hayden, or Michael Hussey’s book. To the balls close to the delivery, Sangakkara used to punch them on the up through the cover or point region.
Jaiswal is not able to get his horizontal cut shots to the short deliveries. He has continuously ended up playing them for an awkward angle, increasing the chances of getting an edge. He certainly has started his practice and will improve in the future.
Jaiswal will have another eight months before their next Test series in Sri Lanka, where he will be up against Vishwa Fernando’s left-arm pace. If he could survive that new ball spell, it would be easier for him and the Blue Brigade to display a strong performance with the bat.
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