NEW DELHI: Yashasvi Jaiswal's Test career is just nine games old, but legendary batsman Brian Lara believes that the 22-year-old left-hander from India has the potential to achieve remarkable feats, possibly even challenging Lara's own record-breaking 400 not out.
Lara's glowing endorsement of Jaiswal is rooted in their close relationship, which developed significantly during their interactions over the past year.
Their bond strengthened during the IPL, where Lara coached the Sunrisers Hyderabad while Jaiswal played for the Rajasthan Royals. They engaged in "4 am conversation", fostering a strong connection between the two left-handers.
Since IPL 2023, much has changed for Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has now become a key player in India's Test and T20 teams.
His exceptional performances in Test cricket are particularly noteworthy, with an impressive average of nearly 70 and three centuries to his name, including two double centuries in the recent home series against England.
What has truly caught Lara's attention is Jaiswal's remarkable skill in adapting to the demands of the game. He has shown a unique ability to shift gears according to the game's situation, a quality that Lara finds highly impressive.
"If I feel my records are threatened, Jaiswal has got a very good chance to do so. He has got capabilities, couple of double hundreds already. He is that good," Lara told PTI editors in an interaction arranged by Star Sports where he is a commentator and expert for the ongoing IPL.
Lara, who celebrated his 55th birthday recently, is widely regarded as one of the game's all-time greats, having scored nearly 12,000 runs in Tests and over 10,000 runs in ODIs.
His monumental record of the highest individual score, 400 not out against England in 2004, remains a remarkable achievement.
Reflecting on his initial encounter with Jaiswal, Lara fondly recalled a light-hearted moment they shared while on the sidelines during the clash between Rajasthan Royals and SRH in the current season.
"The only thing I can reveal about that (conversation) is I think he is an outstanding young cricketer.
what I like about him is that he is very humble and willing to work. The first time I met him (last year), I immediately found myself attached to him.
"After the game (SRH vs Royals), I went to the hotel with a friend of mine from the Caribbean who knew Jos Buttler. It was midnight and Jaiswal found me. I promise you I left the hotel at 4 in the morning.
"He just wanted to hear more and more and more. That is one of his amazing traits.
His ability to want to learn as much as possible. Our conversations are about trying to make him a better cricketer. I am available for anyone that has my number. I am happy to talk cricket."
Being a left-hander himself, it is natural for Lara to be biased towards that tribe. Another southpaw he has great admiration for is Abhishek Sharma with whom he spent time at SRH.
"Again he is someone who I met while I was batting coach of SRH.
I spent two years there. I am allowed to a bit biased when I see a left-hander, I just love a left-hander. Myself and Abhishek have developed a very good relationship, these youngsters are very humble. they want to learn.
"What I like about these two, they want to get to great heights. I have great admiration for both."
The legend from Trinidad reckons that usually records are threatened by batters who score quickly and Jaiswal has that ability along with the hunger to bat long.
His 400 not out has not been surpassed in 20 years and Lara hopes he is still around to see the day when his record is broken.
"I think now, the pace that these guys are batting at. And you look at the guys over the years who have challenged that 300-mark and plus. It's Chris Gayle. It's Virender Sehwag. It's Sanath Jayasuriya, It's Inzamam-ul-Haq. It's Matthew Hayden. These are guys who destroy bowling attacks.
"...you would not say that for a Rahul Dravid or Steve Smith in the present case.
But a player who likes to score quickly, will have an opportunity. You know, Jaiswal, I mean, I was in Australia when David Warner came close and you know, he's an aggressive player.
"So I believe yes, I think it will be broken at some point in time. I think it has to be that person's destiny. Everything has to fall into place. And... I look forward to that time. I hope it happens, while I'm still around," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
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