Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his meteoric rise in international cricket by scoring a match-winning century against Afghanistan in Chennai on Saturday, achieving a milestone faster than Indian legends Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill. The left-handed opener remained unbeaten on 110 as India thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets in the third One-Day International, completing a 3-0 series sweep. This hundred was Jaiswal's second in ODIs and came in just his sixth innings, making him the fastest Indian to reach two ODI centuries, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan (7 innings), Kedar Jadhav (9), Virat Kohli (17), and Shubman Gill (18).
The record underscores Jaiswal's rapid adaptation to the 50-over format. Having made his ODI debut earlier this year, the 24-year-old has shown remarkable consistency and composure at the crease. His first ODI century came against Bangladesh in March 2026, and he has now followed it up with another stellar knock under pressure. Jaiswal's ability to accelerate the innings while maintaining a high strike rate has drawn comparisons with some of India's finest limited-overs batters.
Chasing a modest target of 219, India were always in control. The chase began with an unusual scoreline of 5 for 0 after Afghanistan were penalised five runs for a slow over-rate during their innings. Jaiswal wasted no time and attacked from the very first over, smashing three boundaries off the opening bowler. He reached his half-century in just 38 balls, displaying a wide array of strokes. Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, also looked in fine touch and completed his half-century in 47 deliveries. The duo added 170 runs for the opening wicket in only 22.5 overs, effectively ending the contest early.
While Rohit entertained with his trademark pulls and lofted drives, Jaiswal played with confidence and maturity throughout the innings. He struck a six off Fareed Ahmad and played elegant drives against the spinners, particularly using his feet to the slower bowlers. Rohit eventually fell for 79, caught at mid-wicket off the bowling of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, but Jaiswal carried on undeterred. He reached his century in 83 balls, raising his bat to a standing ovation from the Chennai crowd. The knock also placed him among the fastest players to score an ODI hundred against Afghanistan; the list includes Eoin Morgan (57 balls), Rohit Sharma (63), Ishan Kishan (71), Glenn Maxwell (76), Shubman Gill (77), and William Porterfield (83). Interestingly, three of the seven fastest ODI centuries against Afghanistan have come during this series, reflecting India's dominance.
Jaiswal's rise in international cricket has been nothing short of spectacular. Born in Surat, he moved to Mumbai at a young age to pursue his cricketing dreams. He rose through the ranks via age-group cricket and a stellar performance in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup, where he was the leading run-scorer. His explosive batting in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals earned him a national call-up. He made his Test debut in 2023 and quickly established himself as a reliable opener, scoring centuries against England and Australia. His transition to ODIs has been seamless, with a technique suited for both aggressive and anchoring roles.
The series against Afghanistan also saw India's bowlers putting in a strong performance. Earlier in the day, Prasidh Krishna starred with the ball, claiming a career-best 5 for 23 as Afghanistan were bowled out for 218. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi fought hard with a maiden ODI century, scoring 102 after his side had slumped to 36 for 4. Shahidi's knock included 11 fours and 3 sixes, but lack of support from the other end meant Afghanistan could not post a more challenging total. Prasidh's ability to extract bounce and movement troubled the Afghan batters, and he was ably supported by Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel who took two wickets each.
Jaiswal's achievement has been widely praised by former cricketers and analysts. Sunil Gavaskar called him "a special talent who reads the game well." Many believe his ability to pace an innings and his fearless approach will make him a mainstay in India's ODI team for years to come. With the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup on the horizon, Jaiswal's form provides India with a potent opening combination alongside Rohit Sharma. The left-right combination has already yielded consistent partnerships, and the depth in India's batting lineup looks formidable.
The series clean sweep also highlights India's dominance at home, where they have won 12 consecutive bilateral ODI series. The team management will be pleased with the performances of both established stars and newcomers. Jaiswal's record-breaking feat adds another dimension to India's white-ball cricket, and his hunger for runs suggests more milestones are in store. As he continues to develop, comparisons with legends like Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar are inevitable, but Jaiswal remains focused on his process. "I just want to do my best for the team every time I go out to bat," he said after the match.
In the broader context of Indian cricket, Jaiswal's emergence as a quick scorer in ODIs is significant. The team has often relied on Rohit and Kohli at the top, but with Jaiswal's ability to take the game away from the opposition early, India can set or chase targets more aggressively. The depth in India's bowling attack, led by pace options like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna, combined with world-class spinners, makes them a formidable unit. The win against Afghanistan also gave India valuable game time ahead of the Asia Cup and the World Cup.
Afghanistan, despite the loss, showed glimpses of improvement with Shahidi's century and some promising bowling from their spinners. However, they were outplayed in all departments by a superior Indian side. The tour served as preparation for the upcoming ICC events, and Afghanistan will look to build on the positives. For India, the series was a chance to test bench strength and give opportunities to young players like Jaiswal, who grabbed it with both hands.
Jaiswal's journey from the streets of Surat to the international stage is an inspiration. His dedication to fitness and his constant desire to improve have earned him respect among peers. The record of fastest two ODI centuries by an Indian is just the beginning; if his current trajectory continues, many more records will tumble. As the cricketing world watches, Yashasvi Jaiswal is proving that he is not just a flash in the pan but a genuine talent ready to carry forward India's rich batting legacy.
Source: Yahoo Sports News