"This was happening in the IPL as well" - Aakash Chopra on Yashasvi Jaiswal's problem heading into BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former India player Aakash Chopra has highlighted Yashasvi Jaiswal's struggles against left-arm pace heading into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 fourth Test. He pointed out that the same issue had troubled the opener even in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The fourth Test between India and Australia will be played in Melbourne from Thursday, December 26, onwards. Jaiswal has aggregated just 193 runs in his six innings despite playing a 161-run knock in India's second innings of the first Test in Perth and has been dismissed cheaply by Mitchell Starc in the first innings of all three Tests.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the cricketer-turned-commentator reflected on India's top-order concerns ahead of the fourth Test. As for Jaiswal, he said (7:05):

"The truth is that Yashasvi Jaiswal is having problems against left-arm pace, and this problem has not started now. It's been happening regularly. This was happening in the IPL as well, which means it is not a format-specific problem. It is not a Mitchell Starc problem."

Chopra noted that Starc returning to his best has compounded Jaiswal's problem.

"His numbers against left-arm pace are not that good and that is getting exploited because, for some strange reason, Mitchell Starc is back to his best. We felt there was a slight slide in his career but he has again started to bowl with the same rhythm," he observed.

Chopra urged Jaiswal to spend a little time in the middle and not go for booming drives at the start of his innings. He added that if the opener survives 20-odd overs, he would score another big century.

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"Looking good is not good enough" - Aakash Chopra on Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill has aggregated 60 runs at an average of 20.00 in three innings in BGT 2024-25. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that looking good in the middle wouldn't suffice for Shubman Gill.

"Shubman Gill - it's been 16 or 17 innings where he hasn't scored more than 40 runs outside Asia in the last three years. The last time he did that was in Brisbane when India won the series. It's been a while. The expectations are the same from you. He was looking good, but looking good is not good enough in this batting order at this point in time," he said (8:00).

The former India opener added that Gill needs to give himself a little time as the middle order hasn't been among the runs.

"If Yashasvi is struggling against left-arm pace, you are struggling, (Virat) Kohli struggles if he comes early, runs haven't come from Rohit Sharma's bat, and (Rishabh) Pant hasn't scored runs yet, then Shubman Gill - you will also have to give yourself a little time," Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra noted that Shubman Gill is being looked at as future India captain. He added that the ongoing BGT and the subsequent Test series against England are litmus tests for him and watershed events for his reputation.