Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s cut-shots are frequently discussed in cricket circles. And it occurred again on Tuesday, as his attempt to cut the delivery cost him a three-ball duck against Asitha Fernando in the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle.
It has developed a pattern of success against Jaiswal, as quick bowlers bait him with cut strokes. Despite his previous success with the shot, the situation has changed with the start of India’s 2025 home season.
Jaiswal’s batting average and false short percentage fluctuate between these two time periods, while his strike rate remains constant. As a result, it is evident that he is obsessed with the cut shot, regardless of the consequences for his fate.
Jaiswal’s obsession with cut shots is reminiscent of Virat Kohli’s cover-drive tale.
There may be few things more pleasing to the eyes on the cricket pitch than Kohli’s cover drives, whether they came off the front foot, the back foot, or the step-out-and-step-away inside-out. Throughout his illustrious career, he has scored a significant number of runs with that particular stroke.
However, the same shot drew criticism at various points in his career, with many claiming he had forgotten how to restrict himself whenever a ball was coming at him from the sixth or seventh stump lines.
But then there’s Virat Kohli, a figure that exudes supreme chutzpah by becoming the finest in the business for more than two decades, with consistent success with the bat. There was no competition for his position because he was unrivalled and was never considered for replacement due to his all-format domination.
Jaiswal, on the other hand, is yet to appear in India’s ODI and T20I squads, with Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill the favoured batting positions. And if his cut shot difficulties continue, he may lose his spot in Tests.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Cut Shot: Boom or Bust
Yashasvi Jaiswal is still among the finest at playing square cut strokes thanks to his early success in Test cricket.
According to Cricinfo, Yashasvi Jaiswal has 226 Test runs while playing the square cut, trailing only Travis Head and Ben Duckett.
Interestingly, Head and Duckett, like Jaiswal, have made numerous incorrect shots during cut shot attempts.
However, let us not forget that, despite his recent struggles, Yashasvi Jaiswal has an average of 47.53 in Tests after 30 matches, totalling 2567 runs. He still has a decent Test record in Australia and England, averaging more than 40 after ten innings.
Still, given his averages of 18.66 in 2026 and 39.21 in 2025 (in 19 innings), he will be closely watched during India’s second Test against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 23 in Colombo.
Keeping in mind that India will play its next Test match in New Zealand in November, Yashasvi Jaiswal must demonstrate to the BCCI that he has acknowledged his infatuation with cut-shots, which has resulted in more failures than successes in recent years.
In 2004, Sachin Tendulkar hit 241 runs without using a single cover drive, his signature shot, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Yashasvi Jaiswal may use that lesson to demonstrate to BCCI selectors that he has the temperament and aptitude to play in all situations. Otherwise, things could quickly spiral out of control.
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