Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel has named the most impressive Test batter among Joe Root, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, and Kamindu Mendis in 2024. These batters have made the headlines with their remarkable batting this year in Test cricket.
England’s iconic batter Joe Root has amassed 1470 runs in 29 Test innings at an average of over 56, while young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is currently playing in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, managed 1304 runs in 25 Test innings at an average of over 54.
Yashasvi Jaiswal emerges as Parthiv Patel’s pick for Batter of the Year 2024
On the other hand, England batters Ben Duckett (1134 runs in 30 Test innings at an average of 30) and Harry Brook (1099 runs in 18 Test innings at an average of 60) are among the top 5 run-getters in 2024 in Test cricket, along with Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis (1049 runs in 10 Test innings at an average of over 74).
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Picking Yashasvi Jaiswal as the batter of the year, Parthiv Patel hailed Kamindu Mendis’s stunning batting performance in the longest format of the game, as well as acknowledged Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Joe Root’s batting brilliance, but he went with the young India opener for many reasons.
Parthiv Patel said on Cricbuzz: “A lot of other players bat with the same strike rate. But in my opinion, the player of the year, the batter of the year, if I keep the Indian aside, Yashasvi Jaiswal is the batter of the year for me. Because he has batted in different ways, in different conditions.”
He doesn’t bat in one mode this year: Parthiv Patel
Explaining his choice, Patel noted, “He doesn’t bat in one mode. If you go back to the England series, in the beginning of the year, when you remember the spell of Jimmie Anderson, that he was bowling a very good spell, he defended that spell, then played big shots and hit a double. When the spinners were batting, he showed a different style of batting.
When the Bangladesh test match came here, when India needed to play attacking in Kanpur, he played with a different strike rate. And this is what Yashasvi Jaiswal showed against Bangladesh in Chennai, where the gains were seeming. He showed that he has that ability, that temperament.”
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Parthiv Patel also mentioned how Yashasvi Jaiswal responded to his doubters about his performance outside India with a brilliant century under pressure in challenging Australian conditions. Despite immense pressure, he showed maturity, especially against top bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the Perth Test.
The commentator added that Yashasvi’s ability to adapt across formats, conditions, and tough situations makes him the standout batter of the year 2024. Patel noted, “The way he showed maturity throughout the year, I am not counting the IPL and white-ball runs, but the quality he showed across formats, across conditions, and across difficult situations. That is why I think he is the best batter of the year.”
Parthiv Patel hails Yashasvi Jaiswal’s adaptability and hunger for big scores
Meanwhile, Parthiv Patel mentioned that Yashasvi Jaiswal’s journey has so far shown his resilience, hunger, and temperament making him a promising long-term asset for India at the top of the order. He noted that Jaiswal demonstrated adaptability by addressing doubts about his shot selection despite challenges like a tough tour in South Africa.
The cricket pundit also added that the young Indian opener balanced attacking instincts with solid defensive techniques and proved his growth as a batter, but his hunger for big scores makes him different from others. Parthiv Patel said that the left-handed batter doesn’t settle for quick runs; instead, he pushes for big scores like double centuries, which is a key trait for success in Test cricket.
His consistent improvement in technique and temperament, along with his ability to adapt to challenging match situations, make Yashasvi a long-term performer for India, according to Patel. He also said that Jaiswal is heading in the right direction, thanks to his dedication and maturity.
