Who said what - top 5 expert reactions on Yashasvi Jaiswal's sparkling hundred in IND vs SA 2025 3rd ODI ft. R Ashwin

Yashasvi Jaiswal starred with the bat in the third and final ODI between India and South Africa in Vizag on Saturday, December 6. The left-handed batter slammed his maiden century, scoring an unbeaten 116 runs off 121 balls with the help of two sixes and 12 fours. His exploits with the bat helped the Men in Blue win the decider by nine wickets and clinch the series 2-1. In the process, he also became only the sixth Indian player with centuries across all three formats.

The youngster took 75 balls to bring up his half-century before accelerating in the second half of his innings. During his match-winning knock, Jaiswal shared 155 and 116-run partnerships with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the first and second wickets, respectively.

With his ton, Jaiswal finally grabbed his opportunity with both hands after replacing skipper Shubman Gill (injured) in the three-match ODI series. He previously perished for 18 and 22 in the first two matches.

Following his century, several experts lauded Yashasvi Jaiswal for his first-ever century in the 50-over format. They are Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Kaif, and Zaheer Khan, among others.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin lauded Yashasvi Jaiswal for finally grabbing the opportunity with both hands. The legendary spinner believes that the youngster will now stay in the selectors' minds following his triple-figure mark. The cricketer-turned-commentator said on his YouTube channel:

"When I am talking about Ruturaj, I am talking about the batting stocks that India have. Top of my head, I had actually forgotten about Gill. That does not take anything away from Gill. Once he comes back now, we will talk about Yashasvi Jaiswal. It was a fabulous hundred."

"He knew he had no [big] score in ODIs and he had to make a difference. Now you tell me, Jaiswal scored. Kohli is looking in sublime form. Rohit is looking in terrific form. Gaikwad played well. Now, with Gill coming back, you have a problem of plenty. Whom will you select?" he added.

Mohammad Kaif

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif commended Yashasvi Jaiswal for playing out of his skin during his century. The 44-year-old lauded the left-handed batter for learning perseverance from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, which will help him prolong his ODI career. The cricketer-turned-commentator said on his YouTube channel:

"It is important about what you learn. Jaiswal would have learnt that against a good bowling attack, you have to give respect. Virat and Rohit have been doing it for years. Jaiswal has now learnt to have this approach and play the ball on its merit. Now he will have to stick to this. He is not used to this, and his game is attacking. So, going against your original game initially and looking at the situation, this approach will help him if he wants to serve India for at least ten years as an opener. He changed his game and fine-tuned a bit and then got to his century, so this will be praised."

"Playing with two greats will help a lot. These are new players who are playing T20 and have a naturally attacking game. So Jaiswal will benefits a lot by having Rohit and Kohli with him. We got a lot of benefit as youngsters when seniors gave us advice in the middle. Rohit was also seen talking to him. Kohli also respected and praised Jaiswal's hundred. He connects with the youngsters," he added.

Zaheer Khan

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan heaped praise on Yashasvi Jaiswal for coming up with a better plan in the third ODI against the Proteas, especially against left-arm seamers. The World Cup winner looked happy as one of the top three slammed a century for the Men in Blue. He further commended Jaiswal for finishing on a high note in the series. He told Cricbuzz:

"Yashasvi clearly had a plan on how he's going to tackle it (struggles vs left-arm pacers). These numbers we speak about, but the batters don't forget even more. So he was prepared that way. It's good to see the top-order batter getting a hundred. Because that's the culture you want if you want to be a consistent ODI side. The top 3 or 4 batters, when it's your day, you have to make it count."

"So this century is going to go a long way for Yashasvi. Though you started the series with not many runs, if you are finishing strong, then it'll definitely give you that uplift," he added.

Harbhajan Singh

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh was also in awe of Yashasvi Jaiswal's ton, commending him for his pedigree at the top of the order. While lauding him for his ability to convert starts into big scores, he pointed out how the southpaw has dominated quality pacers like Mitchell Starc and Jofra Archer in the past. On this, he said on his YouTube channel:

"Jaiswal is a phenomenal player. I love him. Hitting Mitchell Starc in Australia off the very first ball while sitting down, brother, you need guts for that. The player has a lot of strength. He had smashed Jofra Archer too, I remember that IPL match, and this guy has a lot of calibre. And I am so happy that he came good, he scored a brilliant 100 and remained not out. The day he plays, he plays long. And this is the kind of player you need."

"He is young, and along with being young, he also has real power, and the kind of power with which he won the match on his own. And the way he batted, I will just say this: India’s batting is in very safe hands. There is Jaiswal, Shubman, Virat, Rohit, KL, many names. And I hope no evil eye hits them, and it is good to see this dominance, the way they have won this series," he added.

Kris Srikkanth

Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth called Yashasvi Jaiswal an all-format player following his maiden century in the third ODI, which earned him the Player of the Match award. The 1983 World Cup winner stressed that Jaiswal's hundred will help him stay in the 15-member squad alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad when Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer return after recovering from injuries. He said on his YouTube channel:

"Actually, he is an all-format player. I was so happy he got the hundred as I was when Ruturaj made a hundred in the last match. Because these two are the future, but they are waiting without chances. The lesson here is no one will care if you score 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. Even if Shubman Gill comes back, okay Jaiswal will not be playing in the 11. But he'll be in the 15, and similarly, even when Shreyas Iyer comes back, Ruturaj Gaikwad will not be out of the 15. Because of scoring centuries, these two will be in the 15."

He continued:

"Then they'll have to wait and score whenever the opportunity presents itself. And when they score, it has to be a century. These 50s, 60s won't do. For all youngsters, when you score centuries, it remains in people's heads. But a lot more to come from Jaiswal. He's already doing brilliantly in Tests, now scoring in ODIs, and if he gets an opportunity in T20Is, he'll thrive. He's not getting an opportunity in T20Is, else he'll smash it there too.

"But he hasn't scored in the first two matches and was blamed for dropping Markram also in the previous game. So he was under tremendous pressure. This was a must-score match for Yashasvi Jaiswal. And when you score a century in a must-score match and become Player of the Match, what more can a player ask for?" Srikkanth added.

Yashasvi Jaiswal will now look to continue his red-hot form in upcoming opportunities with the Men in Blue.