Rahane message for Jaiswal ahead of potential Test debut

 Rahane has urged incumbent No.3 Yashasvi Jaiswal to play with freedom should he make his debut in the first Test against the West Indies in Dominica.

Beginning their World Test Championship 2025 cycle in the Caribbean, India are tipped to name Jaiswal in the XI, off the back of a prolific stretch in domestic cricket in all three formats.

Averaging over 80 in his first 26 First Class innings, Jaiswal made 265 in the second innings of the Duleep Trophy Final last year, also enjoying a strong year of white-ball cricket, hitting 625 runs in the 2023 IPL, at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 163.61.

Also the most prolific run-scorer and Player of the Tournament at the 2020 U19 Cricket World Cup, Jaiswal was given his first taste of senior international cricket a stand-by squad member for India’s World Test Championship 2023 Final tilt against Australia.

Watching on as vice-captain to Rohit Sharma on India’s tour of the Caribbean, Rahane wants the 21-year-old to play the same way that helped him earn his spot.

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“Firstly I’m really happy for him, he’s a really exciting talent. He did really well in domestic cricket for Mumbai, did well in the IPL as well. Most importantly, the way he’s batting in red-ball (cricket). He did well in the Duleep Trophy last year too.

“My message to him will be just to express his batting the way he’s been batting, not to think too much about international cricket and all.

“It’s all about, I think, going out in the middle and playing your game, playing with freedom. That is very important. I’m really happy for him.”