Yashasvi Jaiswal marked a major personal milestone in Visakhapatnam as he brought up his maiden ODI fifty, guiding India to a commanding position in their chase against South Africa in the 3rd ODI on Tuesday. The left-hander reached the landmark in the 24th over, steering a wide delivery from Lungi Ngidi to deep backward point for a single before raising his head to the heavens — a gesture reflecting both relief and gratitude.
Jaiswal, who had gotten starts in the previous two matches without converting, finally produced the innings India had been waiting for. Batting with maturity and patience, he stitched a fluent stand with Rohit Sharma as the pair added over 140 runs for the opening wicket, putting India in total control of the chase of 270.
The fifty came off 78 balls, featuring five boundaries and a six, as Jaiswal blended caution with timely aggression. His shot selection was crisp, and his ability to rotate strike eased pressure on Rohit, who was scoring freely at the other end.
Earlier, the commentators highlighted how the delivery from Ngidi sat up outside off, allowing Jaiswal to glide it behind point before celebrating the moment quietly. It was a special moment for the youngster, considering how close he had come in the first two ODIs of the series.
With India requiring fewer than 130 runs at the time of his fifty and both openers looking settled, the chase seemed firmly in India’s grip.