Chennai: During a training session at Chepauk ahead of the first Test match against Bangladesh, young cricket prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal was visibly frustrated after senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah frequently dislodged his off-stump on Monday. Despite Jaiswal’s impressive record of 1000-plus runs in his first nine Tests, including two double hundreds and over 700 runs in a single series against England, he struggled against Bumrah’s skillful bowling.

Jaiswal is heralded as one of cricket’s future superstars, but critics often highlight his difficulties on bouncy tracks. In matches against South Africa at Centurion and Newlands (Cape Town), Jaiswal appeared uncomfortable against pace and bounce. His dominant performance in the England series, largely against slower bowlers, set high expectations. However, his upcoming challenges include five Tests in Australia, where he will face formidable fast bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood.

Before that, the two towering Bangladeshi pacers Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana will test him with their pace and bounce. Jaiswal’s first-class season has not started well; he recorded low scores in the Duleep Trophy where Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed troubled him with extra bounce—an area he continues to work on.

On the practice day, Bumrah bowled extensively to Jaiswal, twice clean bowling him and frequently beating the outside edge of his bat. Bumrah managed to move the ball away from Jaiswal, exposing his vulnerability to pace and swing. Jaiswal did not seem confident about his off-stump and was often caught playing with hard hands, pushing at deliveries ineffectively.

Troubled by pace, bounce, and swing, Jaiswal’s struggle extended beyond Bumrah. Net bowlers like Simarjeet Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Gurjanpreet Singh also repeatedly beat his outside edge. Observing his difficulties, cricket legend Virat Kohli intervened, offering advice and guidance on Jaiswal’s technique. Both Kohli and Jaiswal then batted for nearly an hour, facing around 50 balls each. During this session, Kohli showcased his classic cover drive and on-drive.

Jaiswal focused on leaving deliveries from length, especially those from Bumrah. The red soil practice pitch offered considerable bounce, making stroke play challenging. Even Kohli faced some trouble from Bumrah’s deliveries aimed at his pads. After Bumrah’s five-over spell, both batsmen faced practice bowlers.

Jaiswal appeared more comfortable against spinners, executing square cuts effectively. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant demonstrated his dominance over left-arm spinners, effortlessly launching into deliveries from Ajit Rams and M Siddharths.

This training session highlighted Jaiswal’s ongoing battle with pace and bounce, underscoring the areas he needs to improve as he prepares for tougher international challenges ahead.