Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener, is advocating for Yashasvi Jaiswal to be treated as a normal inning instead of overhyping his double-hundred.
Gautam Gambhir, the World Cup-winning cricketer, has made a heartfelt plea to Indian cricket enthusiasts and the media, urging them not to excessively hype Yashasvi Jaiswal’s double century and refrain from labeling him. After Jaiswal’s remarkable innings against England in Vizag, where he became the third-youngest Indian to achieve a men’s double Test hundred, fans showered him with titles like the “real prince” and the “player to watch in the next decade.”
While acknowledging the fans’ admiration for Jaiswal, Gautam Gambhir believes that such tags and hero-worship can inadvertently burden young talents with unnecessary pressure.
Speaking with PTI, Gautam Gambhir said, “I want to congratulate the youngster for his achievement but, more importantly, I want to tell everyone that let the young man play. We have seen in the past that in India we have a habit, especially the media, to overhype their achievements and give them tags and make them look like heroes.
“The pressure of expectation gets the better of them and the players are not able to play their natural game. Let him grow and enjoy his cricket,’’ he further added.
Jaiswal’s brilliant knock of 209 played a pivotal role in India reaching a total of 396. Following that, Jasprit Bumrah’s outstanding performance, securing six wickets, and Kuldeep Yadav’s three-wicket haul collectively restricted England to 253, giving India a substantial lead of 143 runs.
Comparing Shubman Gill’s current challenges to his own experiences, Gambhir stressed the importance of patience. He encouraged cricket fans to allow these players to grow organically and evolve at their own pace.
“Let him grow and enjoy his cricket. We should give them time as they are quality players, and they have shown it in the past with their performance. That is why they are playing for India,” he added.
As Jaiswal celebrated his impressive double-century, Gill found himself grappling with a tough phase on the field. Gill’s ongoing struggles persisted with two modest scores in Hyderabad, and he faced disappointment again in Visakhapatnam, getting dismissed at 34.
