Wasim Jaffer: A committed and consistent opening batsman

India has always been blessed with opening batsmen who made an impact on Indian cricket with legendary Sunil Gavaskar being the epitome and benchmark for the opener’s slot. The tag of the most complete batsman by Gavaskar was always impossible for anyone to breach.

Post Gavaskar era, many stalwarts graced the opening slot with ample consistency. Sehwag, Gambhir, Dhawan contributed immensely to the game with their flamboyance, sheer talent, and gave a festive atmosphere to the spectators. However, when the temperament and compactness of any opener is discussed, Wasim Jaffer is probably one of those batsmen who can match the Little Master’s appetite for runs and technique.

Jaffer has been one of the most compact openers to play for India. As an opener, one needs to build an innings depending upon the team structure, opponent’s strengths, pitch behaviour, weather conditions and most importantly self-preparation and confidence irrespective of dip or rise in the form. Opener defines the course of Test match during the innings he builds.

Wasim Jaffer showed his class very early in his career when he scored 314 not out against Saurashtra in his second match of Ranji Trophy as an 18-year-old boy. With consistent domestic contributions, Wasim Jaffer made it to the Indian team in the year 2000.

Being in and out of the team till 2006, Jaffer finally made it to supreme form when he scored his first Test hundred against England at Nagpur and then came with two major milestones of his international cricket with one the most deserving double centuries worth 212 against West Indies in Antigua and then, against arch-rivals Pakistan at Eden Gardens, produced 202 in 2007.

Wasim Jaffer went on to play 31 Tests for India and probably deserved more. His career saw him score 5 test centuries and 1944 runs in Tests. He played his last match in 2008.

Though out of the international arena, Jaffer never lost his appetite for runs and has been amongst runs all these years in domestic tournaments. He has all the domestic records against his name having scored more than 11,000 runs in Ranji Trophy and is one of the most consistent performers of all times.

After helming the mantle of Mumbai opening batsman till 2015, he moved to Vidarbha Ranji team. Vidarbha was always considered to be one of the weaker teams in domestic tournaments. However, fortunes seemed to have changed for Vidarbha in the last couple of years with Wasim Jaffer and coach Chandrakant Pandit proving to be tremendous mentors and major contributors to Vidarbha’s rise as domestic champions.

After spending more than two decades, representing India with and winning 10 Ranji Trophies as a player, one would have expected Jaffer showing some signs of decline in hunger for runs. However, he still carries the same enthusiasm of a teen, energy of youngster and commitment of a true professional even at the fag end of his career. He is a true idol for any youngster who wants to make a mark on the game.

Wasim Jaffer is celebrating his 41st birthday today and we wish him many more years in cricket and as a true mentor for generations of the cricketers to come.

Wasim is a true legend and deserves a big bow today.

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