Jaiswal Aims to Eclipse Gavaskar's 49-Year-Old Record in Edgbaston Test Showdown

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the dynamic Indian opener, is on the cusp of achieving a historic feat. He is just 97 runs shy of becoming the quickest Indian batsman to amass 2,000 Test runs. The young left-hander has the opportunity to surpass the legendary Sunil Gavaskar's long-standing, 49-year-old record when India squares off against England in the second Test at Edgbaston, commencing on July 2nd.

India's Yashasvi Jaiswal (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Jaiswal's consistency has been a significant positive for India, especially during this transitional phase in the Test format. His recent performance, highlighted by a brilliant century in the first Test at Headingley, showcased his potential. However, his efforts weren't enough to prevent India from suffering a five-wicket defeat. Despite setting a challenging 371-run target for England, the home side, led by Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Joe Root, secured a calm victory, providing England with a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

As India looks to rebound in Edgbaston, Jaiswal's individual form remains a key source of hope. In his nascent Test career, spanning just 20 matches, he has already accumulated 1,903 runs at an impressive average of 52.86.

The current record for the fastest Indian to reach 2,000 Test runs is held by batting icon Sunil Gavaskar, who achieved the milestone in his 23rd Test appearance back in 1976. Gavaskar later became the first-ever cricketer to reach the 10,000 Test runs mark. Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag follow on this esteemed list, having reached the 2,000-run mark in their 25th Tests.

With his elegant strokeplay and remarkable composure, Jaiswal now has a golden opportunity to not only join these legends but also surpass them, providing India with a significant boost in this must-win Test match.