Star India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal achieved a historic milestone on Tuesday, October 3, by becoming the youngest Indian male cricketer to score a century in T20I cricket. This remarkable feat was also the first T20I century by an Indian at the Asian Games and stands as the joint-fourth fastest century in T20Is by an Indian.
The 21-year-old southpaw batter delivered a scintillating performance, scoring 100 runs from 49 balls, which contributed to India’s total of 202/4 in their 20 overs during the Asian Games 2023 quarter-final against Nepal at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou.
The Indian team, choosing to bat first after winning the toss, witnessed a dominant display by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who managed to score eight boundaries and seven sixes during the innings. Jaiswal, along with his opening partner and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who contributed 25 runs from 23 balls, managed to build a strong opening partnership of 103 runs in just 9.5 overs. Jaiswal showcased his explosive form by hitting consecutive sixes off Karan KC in the second over.
The left-handed batsman achieved a rapid fifty in just 22 balls, launching Sandeep Lamichhane for a six-over long-off. The opening partnership came to an end when the Indian skipper, Gaikwad, was caught at deep midwicket while attempting to go after Dipendra Singh Airee.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Maiden T20I đź’Ż powers India to a 23-run win against Nepal đź‘Ź#TeamIndia are through to the semifinals of the #AsianGames 🙌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/wm8Qeomdp8#IndiaAtAG22 pic.twitter.com/3fOGU6eFXi
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 3, 2023
Tilak Varma, who scored only 2 runs, was bowled by Sompal Kami, and debutant Jitesh Sharma was dismissed for 5 after being caught and bowled by Lamichhane. However, Jaiswal continued his attacking approach. He thought he had reached his century when he hit a lap shot off Kami over the short fine leg at 95, but the ball had landed inside the boundary. Yashasvi Jaiswal achieved his well-deserved century in the next delivery, taking a single by guiding the ball to the leg side.
Rinku Singh’s quick innings boosted India’s total beyond 200 after Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed
Jaiswal got out right after reaching his century, mishitting a full toss by Airee. Yet, Rinku Singh (37* off 15) delivered a fantastic brief performance, and Shivam Dube (25* off 19) contributed as well, helping India conclude on a strong note.
Rinku struck consecutive sixes off Abinash Bohara and Rohit Paudel in two consecutive overs. He went on a rampage against Bohara in the final over, hitting two sixes and two fours, accumulating 25 runs in that over.
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