"Marco Jansen will challenge both of them" - Abhishek Nayar on star Indian duo ahead of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former India player Abhishek Nayar has opined that the South African seam attack and the conditions at the Eden Gardens would challenge KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. He picked Marco Jansen as the Proteas seamer who could trouble the Indian opening pair in the first Test.

The first Test between India and South Africa is scheduled to start in Kolkata on Friday, November 14. Rahul and Jaiswal are expected to open the batting for the hosts.

During an interaction on the Star Sports show 'Game Plan,' Nayar was asked about his thoughts on Rahul and Jaiswal as an opening pair heading into the Kolkata Test.

"If there is one attack and conditions that can challenge both of them in India, it is the Eden Gardens. It will challenge them. You will see the ball carry and you will see a bit of seam. Marco Jansen will challenge both of them, especially when he takes it away from Yashasvi and brings it into KL Rahul. So that's a matchup I am looking forward to," he responded.

However, Nayar acknowledged that Rahul and Jaiswal form an ideal opening combination.

"If you have to see how two players complement each other, it's Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. One in control, lets the ball go. The other doesn't want to let one ball go, counterattacking cricket. I think they complement each other," he observed.

KL Rahul has scored 53 runs while being dismissed thrice by Marco Jansen in Tests. Yashasvi Jaiswal has never been dismissed by Jansen in Tests, scoring eight runs off the 16 balls he has faced from the left-arm seamer.

---

"Even for a Test format, it's unbelievable to watch from the outside" - Abhishek Nayar on KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as a pair ahead of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Yashasvi Jaiswal (left) and KL Rahul opened for India in all five Tests against England. [P/C: Getty]

In the same interaction, Abhishek Nayar noted that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal communicate a lot while batting with each other.

"Even for a Test format, it's unbelievable to watch from the outside. They also feed off of each other's energy. Yashasvi talks a lot to KL in the middle. He respects him a lot, takes his advice. So you see a very vocal KL Rahul when Yashasvi is batting. That is also something that plays a huge part in why together they have been so successful for this Indian team," he said.

The former India assistant coach added that although the duo has contrasting batting approaches, Rahul guides Jaiswal in the middle.

"In a lot of ways, it's a revolution and a change in the dynamic of the team because there is a young gun who is going all guns blazing, and then there is a senior statesman who is letting balls go, but also reminding the young gun that he needs to take it deep and score those big runs, asking him to make sure that he is being smart about the shots and the options he is taking," Nayar elaborated.

KL Rahul has scored 3,985 runs at an average of 36.55 in 65 Tests. Yashasvi Jaiswal has amassed 2,428 runs at an average of 51.65 in 26 Tests.

Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news

Edited by Kartik Iyer