• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir wants everyone to not over-hype Yashasvi Jaiswal's double hundred in the second Test against England as he feels the extreme burden of expectations can affect the performance of youngsters like him heading forward in his career.

India opener Jaiswal scored his maiden Test double hundred in the ongoing second Test in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, becoming the third-youngest Indian to achieve the feat.

Playing only his sixth Test, the 22-year-old's sensational knock of 209 off 290 balls single-handedly powered India to 396 in the first innings before getting all out in 112 overs on the second day of the match.

Jaiswal's accomplishment marked him as the first Indian left-hander since Gambhir to score a double hundred in the traditional format. Gambhir achieved the feat in 2008 against Australia.

"I want to congratulate the youngster for his achievement but, more importantly, I want to tell everyone that let the young man play. We have seen in the past that in India we have a habit, especially the media, to over-hype their achievements and give them tags and make them look like heroes," Gambhir was quoted by PTI as saying.

"The pressure of expectation gets the better of them and the players are not able to play their natural game. Let him grow and enjoy his cricket," added Gambhir.

While Jaiswal put up a memorable performance with his maiden double century, Shubman Gill and middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer continued their struggle for runs, and the 42-year-old cricketer-turned-politician backed the under-performing players, saying they should be given more time.

Both Gill and Iyer looked set for their respective promising scores in the first innings of the second Test but failed to capitalise and convert them into big ones.

Gill, who scored 34 in the first innings in Visakhapatnam, has not scored a half-century in his last nine Test innings, while Iyer too has been off-color.

"We should give them time as they are quality players, and they have shown it in the past with their performance. That is why they are playing for India," Gambhir said.

It must be mentioned that Iyer is the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, a franchise where the former India opener has come back as the Mentor for the next edition of the Indian Premier League.


(With PTI Inputs)