'Aggressive Approach Is Jaiswal's...' - Abhishek Nayar On Indian Opener

image-lpf7ag2fYashasvi Jaiswal (Twitter)

A miscued lofted shot towards the mid-off region may have ended Yashasvi Jaiswal's encouraging top-order blitz in the first T20I versus Australia but former Mumbai and India cricketer Abhishek Nayar believes the young opener must not dim his aggressive approach as response to the dismissal. 

Jaiswal began in extravagant fashion with his knock of 21 off just eight deliveries in the quest to lay the right foundation for India's successful chase in Visakhapatnam before he got dismissed playing another attacking stroke, caught at the edge of the circle by tall-statured Steve Smith against part-time spinner Matthew Short. 

The aspiring young batter was livid with himself for missing out on a genuine big-shot opportunity. However, Nayar reckoned he should continue to back his strokes regardless of the previous outing as it is his "strength" to play an aggressive game. 


Nayar backs Jaiswal to continue with aggressive approach 

Speaking to JioCinema ahead of the second T20I in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday (November 26), Nayar assessed Jaiswal's game and said his best comes out in the shortest format when he is willing to keep the accelerator on and dents opposition plans at the top of the order. 

"See, this is his strength. He's not a player who takes too much time to settle in. I think he's been given the role to play with freedom. He plays in the same way for Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. If you are a player who is instinctively aggressive, then you should remain that way," said Nayar ahead of IND vs AUS 2nd T20I. 

Jaiswal smashed two fours and two sixes and was looking in ominous touch for a substantial knock before his untimely dismissal. Notably, the cricketer has made a tremendous rise in India's T20I set-up since his debut earlier in the year against the West Indies, hammering 269 runs over nine innings at an exceptional strike rate of 172.44. 

The youngster, who struck a valiant maiden T20I century versus Nepal in the Asian Games in China, had stormed his way into the reckoning for the format after a memorable IPL 2023 for Rajasthan Royals (RR). Exhibiting a rapidly improved range and skillset, Jaiswal smashed 625 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 163.61.