Between the Wickets and Words: Jaiswal Speaks on His Unlucky Run-Out Drama

Yashasvi Jaiswal, India's rising left-handed opener, addressed the unfortunate run-out that ended his promising innings on 175 during Day 2 of the second Test against the West Indies at Arun Jaitley Stadium, dismissing any lingering tension with captain Shubman Gill. The 23-year-old, who resumed on an overnight score of 173, added just two runs before a miscommunication led to his dismissal in the second over, robbing him of a maiden double century and sparking debate among fans and experts.

The incident unfolded when Jaiswal drove a delivery from West Indies pacer Jayden Seales straight to mid-off fielder Tagenarine Chanderpaul. Sensing a quick single, Jaiswal set off but received no response from Gill at the non-striker's end, who appeared cautious about the risk. Jaiswal turned back late, only for Chanderpaul's sharp throw to reach wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach, who broke the stumps with Jaiswal short of his ground.

Replays showed Jaiswal's visible frustration as he gestured animatedly toward Gill before trudging off, an exchange captured on broadcast cameras. Former India spinner Anil Kumble weighed in post-session, placing the blame squarely on Jaiswal for initiating the run, calling it a "bad call" that he "wouldn't have made" given the ball's placement. Social media buzzed with divided opinions, some criticising Gill's hesitation while others praised his judgement to protect his wicket.

Despite the early setback, Jaiswal remained composed in his post-match remarks, brushing off the mishap as an inherent risk of the game. "Yeah, it's part of the game. It's fine," he told reporters when asked if he had moved past the dismissal. Elaborating on his mindset, Jaiswal noted the balance between team objectives and personal milestones: "There is always a thought to know about the team's goal and personal goals at the start of the day. I was trying to get in early yesterday. I was thinking of batting for an hour, and it'd be easier to score later." His knock, featuring aggressive strokeplay against a disciplined West Indies attack, included 21 boundaries and highlighted his growing maturity in Test cricket since his debut in 2023.

Meanwhile, Gill steadied the innings with a captain's knock, remaining unbeaten on 129 from 196 balls, adorned with 16 fours and two sixes. The right-hander's fluent effort propelled India to a declaration at 518 for 5 in 134.2 overs, setting West Indies a daunting target. This century marked Gill's 10th in Tests and elevated him to fifth on the all-time list of most World Test Championship (WTC) hundreds, behind England's Joe Root (21), Australia's Steve Smith (13), New Zealand's Kane Williamson (11), and Australia's Marnus Labuschagne (11).

Surpassing predecessor Rohit Sharma's nine WTC tonnes, Gill now boasts 2,826 runs in the cycle at an average of 43.47, including a high of 269 against England earlier in 2025. Gill's tonne also etched him into Indian cricket lore as the second captain after Virat Kohli to score five Test centuries in a calendar year, a feat achieved in just 12 innings compared to Kohli's 16 in 2017. Joining an elite club that includes Sachin Tendulkar (seven in 2010) and Sunil Gavaskar (five in 1978 and 1983), Gill's form underscores his seamless transition to leadership following Rohit's retirement.

Live Score Update (End of Day 2): India 518/5 dec (134.2 ov) leads West Indies 140/4 (55 ov) by 378 runs. For the West Indies: Shai Hope 31*, Tevin Imlach 14*; Ravindra Jadeja 3-37, Kuldeep Yadav 1-35. West Indies, already 1-0 down after a heavy defeat in Ahmedabad, struggled in reply on a spin-friendly pitch, with Jadeja and Kuldeep extracting turn to claim key wickets late in the day.

As India eyes a series sweep, Jaiswal's resilience and Gill's milestones signal a bright future for the team's top order. The young duo's on-field chemistry, tested by Friday's error, appears intact off it, with both prioritising collective success in the ongoing WTC campaign.