Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Key Weakness Exposed by Left-Arm Pace

By Harshit - Nov 21, 2025 06:38 PM
Last updated on Nov 21, 2025 06:38 PM

The buildup to the second Test in Guwahati has placed a bright spotlight on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s evolving technique and the one weakness opponents are now actively hunting. A naturally aggressive batter with a blazing instinct to carve the ball through the off side, Jaiswal has enjoyed rapid success in Test cricket. However, the recurring pattern of dismissals against left-arm fast bowlers has become a noticeable flaw that he is working overtime to fix.

Two years ago, it was Nandre Burger who first exposed this weakness by hammering Jaiswal with pace, angle and teasing width outside off. Since then, other left-arm bowlers have followed that blueprint, tightening their plans and forcing the Indian opener into uncomfortable positions. With the Guwahati Test approaching, Jaiswal has been deep in technical reconstruction, spending long hours at the nets searching for clarity, patience and shot selection.

On a breezy morning in Guwahati, India’s support staff scrambled to recreate left-arm angle simulation for him. With no local left-arm pacers available, Jaiswal took on throwdowns from the team’s left-arm specialist and deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah and Nitish Reddy to sharpen his reading of the channel. It is an ongoing repair job that could define his innings in the coming match.

Jaiswal’s Battle Against the Left-Arm Angle

The most compelling aspect of Jaiswal’s recent struggles is how consistently the left-arm angle seems to trigger his urge to cut. The temptation to break free early with a flashing cut shot has landed him in trouble against bowlers who understand how to exploit his reach, footwork and instincts.

In Kolkata, the pattern became impossible to ignore. Marco Jansen dismissed him twice, both times feeding the off-side channel with deliveries that skidded or bounced from awkward lengths. Eight dismissals to left-arm pacers at an average below 22 now represent the central talking point in his early Test career.

During Thursday’s practice, Jaiswal worked specifically on planting his front foot, aligning his head toward the line of the ball, and resisting the immediate lure of width. He repeatedly shadow-batted responses to deliveries that he would earlier have cut instinctively. The focus was not on run-making but on discipline—on learning to let go of balls that should not be touched during the first hour of an innings.

The Psychology Behind the Cut Shot

For an attacking opener like Jaiswal, the cut shot is more than a release—it is a signature. Since his debut, no Test batter has scored more runs through the cut, making it a genuine strength but also a potential liability when misjudged. His early-innings dependency on the shot has created predictable patterns for bowlers to exploit.

Statistically, the cut accounts for a substantial chunk of his early scoring. But the very stroke that fast-tracked his rise is now becoming a double-edged sword. The riskier versions—like the slash above point or the hard-handed chop behind square—have begun surfacing too frequently against fresh, hard new balls. In the nets, however, Jaiswal looked intent on correcting this roulette of impulse and aggression.

Part of the challenge is emotional. Jaiswal thrives on momentum. Once he sees width, even marginal width, the floodgates of strokeplay open. The team’s focus is on rebuilding his mental framework, especially during the vulnerable first 20 deliveries of his innings, where opposition sides now concentrate their ambush.

The Timeline of His Dismissals

Jaiswal’s struggle against the angle has been a layered journey across tours and formats. Several moments stand out as turning points:

• South Africa Tour: Nandre Burger first peppered him with deliveries that combined width and bounce, exposing his rushed attempts at the cut.
• Australia Series: Mitchell Starc troubled him repeatedly. In Perth, Jaiswal drove loosely to get out early. In Adelaide, he was undone by late inswing while attempting to reset his approach.
• Home Season Against West Indies: An indecisive cut attempt against Jayden Seales saw him caught behind despite being set.
• Recent Kolkata Test: Marco Jansen combined angle and tight lengths to force two dismissals in the same area.

Each dismissal has contributed to a library of experiences that the opener and the coaching staff are now keenly revisiting. The renewed focus is on rediscovering control without entirely sacrificing aggression.

Possible Solutions: The Sangakkara Blueprint

Several senior members of the team believe that Jaiswal’s game can be elevated by incorporating a more vertical bat technique for balls close to his body. Rather than attempting horizontal cuts at deliveries that do not merit the stroke, he might be better served by borrowing from the repertoire of legends like Kumar Sangakkara or Matthew Hayden.

Sangakkara famously punched deliveries rising from length through the covers with minimal risk. For a naturally gifted stroke-maker like Jaiswal, such an option could provide both scoring opportunities and safety. It circumvents the awkward middle position where he neither commits fully forward nor trusts his weight transfer on the back foot.

The signs in the Guwahati nets suggest progress. His bat swing was more measured, his eyes were fixed on trajectory rather than width, and his body remained more compact during shadow practice. Whether these adjustments translate into match play remains the real test.

Why the Guwahati Test Matters for Jaiswal

The upcoming Test in Guwahati is not merely another match; it is a crucial checkpoint in Jaiswal’s evolution as an all-format opener. With opposition teams constantly sharpening their plans, every innings offers him a chance to break the pattern or fall deeper into it.

The surface in Guwahati is expected to offer early assistance to seamers, making his first 30 balls especially pivotal. If he can resist the temptation to throw hands at width and instead choose his moments wisely, the innings could mark a turning point in his maturity as a Test batter.

At the team level, India is counting on solid starts, especially against strong touring attacks. With the spotlight intensifying, Jaiswal has the opportunity to showcase the next stage of his development—tempered aggression backed by clarity in shot selection.

The Road Ahead: Technique, Temperament and Trust

No technical issue in cricket is permanent if addressed early, and Jaiswal has shown the willingness to adapt. His transformation will require a mix of repetition, confidence, and game awareness. If mastered, the evolution could enhance his overall consistency and convert him into one of India's most feared openers across conditions.

The path ahead is challenging, but it is also promising. Few batters possess his range of strokes and natural timing. With refined decision-making, Jaiswal can turn this temporary vulnerability into another weapon—one that combines the audacity that defines him with the discipline that elite Test cricket demands.

As the Guwahati Test draws closer, all eyes will be on whether Jaiswal sticks with the new script or reverts instinctively to his cut-heavy impulses. The balance he strikes might just determine the narrative of India’s opening partnership for the rest of the season.

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