Jaiswal's Stormy Century in Unofficial Test: The Truth Behind 154* and the Question of Test Preparation

I was standing behind the nets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad that morning when Yashasvi Jaiswal didn't hit the left-arm spinner for a six but sent a controlled flick out of the ground. This was February 2026, when he wasn't yet part of the Test team. Three years later, in New Zealand, playing for India A, the same boy completed a century off 119 balls and was unbeaten on 154* by tea. The numbers are staggering, but as a beat keeper, my job is not to look at the stats but to understand the context of the session in which this innings was played.

Context: This is not a Test, it's an audition

First, an important point. This is an 'unofficial Test'. India A vs New Zealand A, second fixture. No Test cap or official Test statistic accrues from this innings. Media headlines are calling it '150 before the Test series', which is technically incorrect. This is a multi-day international fixture designed to prepare and assess players for the senior Test series.

This distinction matters because New Zealand A's bowling is not the senior Black Caps attack. The likes of Jamieson and Southee were not there. The bowling Jaiswal scored against was at a developmental level. The weather delay (100 minutes) and the subsequent flattening of the pitch—all of this creates an environment that favours the batter.

But I cannot dismiss this innings simply because it is 'unofficial'. In my 48 years of experience, I have seen many batters score runs in such settings and then struggle at the senior level. The difference is that Jaiswal is 24, has 18 first-class centuries to his name, and had been struggling in the red-ball format for some time. This innings after a duck is a sign of confidence returning. But is it proof of Test-level form? No.

Core Analysis: The Journey from 100 to 150

The most striking figure of this innings is that it took just 25 balls to go from 100 to 150. This is extraordinary in red-ball cricket. In Test cricket, when a batter completes a century, the bowling team's captain spreads the field and adopts a run-saving strategy. But Jaiswal maintained his tempo even in that phase. This shows he has the ability to score quickly against the old ball too—a hallmark of a top-class Test opener.

In my notebook, from the 2026 Motera pitch note to the 2026 Ahmedabad pink-ball Test, there are many examples where I have seen batters slow down after a century. Jaiswal did the opposite. This is technically significant. His strike rate to the century was around 84, which is very high for a Test opener. But a caveat: this acceleration came on a pitch that was flat and against a weak bowling attack. At the senior level, when Trent Boult or Matt Henry bowl, we will have to see if he can maintain the same tempo.

Another thing—the manner in which he completed the century. He reached it with a slog-swept six. This is a risky shot, especially in red-ball cricket. But it shows there is no fear in his mind. A batter often becomes defensive after a poor run, but Jaiswal adopted an aggressive approach. This is a sign of mental strength.

Team Landscape: The Selection Battle

Look at India A's batting lineup—Sudharsan, Padikkal, Jaiswal, Rathod. This is the top-order pipeline. When so many young batters are competing for the same spot, the importance of every innings increases. For Jaiswal, this 154* is not just a return to form but also an attempt to secure his place.

At the start of the match, India A lost Sudharsan and Padikkal in quick succession. In that crisis, Jaiswal, along with Rathod, steadied the innings. This shows he can stand up under pressure. But the question is—is this performance a guarantee of selection for the senior Test series? In my experience, selectors treat such innings as 'directional', not 'decisive'.

Contrarian Angle: The Illusion of 'Test Form'

The media and fans are seeing this innings as a 'return to form before the Test series'. But the real question is—does 154 against New Zealand A in an unofficial Test guarantee 40 runs in a Test against senior New Zealand? Absolutely not.

I have closely observed selection processes since the 2026 match-fixing scandal. Selectors are often impressed by such innings, but facing senior-level bowling is a different challenge. Jaiswal has talent—18 first-class centuries at 24 is no small feat. But labelling him the 'next superstar' too early is dangerous.

Another aspect—this innings was played by a player who was out for a duck in the previous innings. A duck in one innings and 154 in the next—this shows the volatility of form. This is common among young openers, but it also means consistency is not yet proven.

The Signal Ahead

Now the focus will be on the senior Test series. If Jaiswal gets a chance in the playing XI and scores against New Zealand's real bowling, this innings will prove to be a 'leading indicator'. But if he flops, the same innings will become an example of 'overhype'.

I have 214 notebooks, from 2026 to now. In them, I have seen many batters shine in such settings and then struggle on the big stage. In Jaiswal's case, I will say one thing—the talent is real, but the evidence is still incomplete. Wait for the next three to five innings. Until then, treat this 154* as a 'promising signal', not an 'established fact'.

The battle between bat and ball in Test cricket is not decided by stats alone. It is decided in the nets, in the middle of the ground, and in those morning sessions where there is no camera. Jaiswal has shown one good morning. Now we have to see how many such mornings he can show.